BOARD00807

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2005
• Description: ISF Section - Funding Limitations on USGS Streamgaging Programs in Colorado
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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financial capabilities. This has resulted in a substantial decrease in funding for gages in _
Colorado in 2006 as compared with 2005 and previous years. As a result of this funding .
shortfall, the USGS has recently identified 20 CWP gages that will no longer receive any federal
funding in 2006. This continued reduction in funding combined with budgetary constraints on
state and local funding partners will ultimately result in the loss of additional gages in Colorado.

It is critical that this downward trend in funding be halted, and that ultimately, the full amount of
funding necessary to operate these programs is restored. Although the CWCB acknowledges
federal budgetary realities, and understands that the USGS like other agencies may have to
accept reductions, we do not believe that such reductions should jeopardize the core water data
collection function ofthe USGS that has taken place for over 100 years.

Therefore, the Colorado Water Conservation Board respectfully requests that you support an
increase in federal spending in 2007 which will effectively halt the loss of gages in Colorado and
ultimately restore the U.S. Geological Survey's Cooperative Water Program (CWP) and National
Streamflow Information Program (NSIP) to full funding levels. In addition, we request that
funding among specific programs within the USGS be reevaluated and prioritized in order to
ensure that sufficient funding is allocated to the data collection functions of the water resource
division.

Sincerely,

pr-'.

e

Rod Kuharich, Director
Colorado Water Conservation Board

cc Mr. David Anderson, Associate Director, Natural Resource Programs
Dr. P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director USGS

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