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. . . 3. The Program will retain $lM in the long-term budget for the Yampa for a fish-screen at EIkhead (if needed). The current estimated cost to expand E1khead by 12,000 acre-feet is $21.5 million. Subtracting the $8.75 million that the recovery program will contribute means the River District will seek a loan from the CWCB of approximately $12.75 million. A joint agreement between the River District, CWCB and the Recovery Program now needs to be developed. The leased water will be paid for from the Recovery Program "Base Funding" at a cost of approximately $120\acre-feet (storage cost amortized over the 20-year lease period). This appears to be a fair deal for all parties. It assures the Recovery Program that base flows will be met 90% of the time within the existing program budget, it develops new storage, it keeps the River District enterprise fund whole and the CWCB makes a fair loan to the River District. Agency Updates Mark Matulik Retires: After 22 years of state service Mark Matulik is retiring from the CWCB Flood Protection Section, on Jan. 31. Mark and his wife Beverly plan to live in Gulf Breeze, Florida for part of the year and then in their mountain home in South Park during the summer. Mark was excellent at facilitating a good working relationship between the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Emergency Management and the Board and always managed to keep us in good stead with federal programs. Mark served as the state representative and disaster mitigation officer for federal disaster declared floods in 1997 and 1999. At the CWCB, Mark also managed the Unmet Needs Program, Community Assistance Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program that offered project and planning grants for flood related projects. Through these programs Mark has completed dozens and dozens project like: channel improvement proj ects, early warning flood systems, acquisition of property in floodplains, elevation ofNFIP insured structures, and wet and dry flood proofing ofNFIP insured structures. Mark also conducted 40 Community Assistance visits per year for FEMA to provide technical assistance to communities in the National Flood Insurance Program. It is safe to say that he has been around this state hundreds oftimes and knows the best place to buy peaches, where to find extinct volcanoes, the best hotels and restaurants. In addition Mark has made many friends over the years and will be missed by all. Budget: The 2003 legislative session opened on Jan. 8. According to a Denver Post story, lawmakers must try to plug the $850 million hole in this year's budget and then try to fill the state's dwindling water reservoirs. Because of the poor economy, revenues have fallen $850 million below projections when the budget was written last spring, and the state constitution requires a balanced budget. Each day that legislators wait to cut is a day the money is being spent, so timing is key. Lawmakers expect about 80 bills to cut various parts of the budget, and House Majority Leader Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, said she would like to have those finished in January. Water issues include a proposal to allow communities to issue bonds for up to $ I 0 billion in proposed water proj ects. 21 I