BOARD00701

• Board Meeting Date: 7/26/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Platte River Endangered Species Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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an average of 130,000 to 150,000 acre-feet per year at Grand Island; 2) protect, restore, and maintain
10,000 acres of habitat; and, 3) implement the integrated monitoring and research plan ("IMRP") .
through the Adaptive Management Plan ("AMP").

The monetary cost of the first increment of the program is $187 million (2005). In addition to
monetary contributions the States plan to contribute water and land to the program. The total burden
of the program in terms of monetary, water, and land contributions will be shared equally by the
United States and the three States (50% federal/50% States).

Federal authorization legislation is being advanced in Washington D.C. Senators Allard and Salazar
introduced Senate Bill 3611 on June 29, 2006, which would provide federal authorization for
participation in the Program. Federal legislation that will appropriate funds for the Program will be
pursued as well.

Colorado's Oblh:mtions
Colorado would have obligations to provide money and water for implementation of the Program.
Colorado would be responsible for $24 million (2005 dollars, final cash contributions would have to
be adjusted for inflation). This money would be used to acquire and restore habitat for the target
species and to implement the IMRP and the AMP. Additional money would be necessary to satisfy
Colorado's water obligations, as described below. With regard to Colorado's cash obligation, the
General Assembly passed House Bill 1311, which recapitalized the Species Conservation Trust Fund
with an additional $12.8 million, and which authorized the expenditure of up to $5 miiiion tor the
Platte River Program in fiscal year 2006-07. Colorado's water obligations would include: I) 10,000
acre- feet annually to be retimed during times of target flow shortages by the end of year 4 of the
Program (5,000 acre-feet by the end of year 2 of the Program) (often referred to as "Tamarack I") ;
and, 2) water to cover future depletions related to the South Platte River (new depletions from 1997
established as a baseline), which is approximately 1800 acre-feet/year of water per 100,000
additional people in the South Platte River Basin in Colorado, retimed during times of target flow
shortages. Colorado's North Platte River Basin future depletions plan could be described as a non-
plan. So long as the total irrigated acres is less than 134, 467 acres in Jackson County, the
population in Jackson County remains less than 2022, and piscatorial, wildlife, and other
envirorunental uses are incidental to irrigation uses, the North Platte River Basin in Colorado is
covered under the Program as existing uses. With regard to Tamarack I, Colorado has approximately
$2 million authorized for satisfying this water obligation through drilling and operating wells and
recharge pits to retime water. This project is expected to net approximately 4200 acre-feet annually
towards ours 10,000 acre-feet annual requirement. Colorado will need additional water projects and
money to fully satisfy our 10,000 acre-feet annual obligation, as well as the future depletions
associated with growth in the South Platte River Basin within Colorado.

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A new non-profit organization has been formed to help satisfy the Platte River Program
responsibilities, to the extent that the State is unable to fully meet these obligations. This
organization is called the South Platte Water Related Activities Program ("SPWRAP"). The State
and SPWRAP have been developing an MOU to define responsibilities and roles regarding the
financial, water, and accounting obligations associated with the Program. SPWRAP would obtain its
funds from its water users and SPWRAP members would also receive streamlined approvals through
coordination with the State, from the FWS.

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Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning