BOARD00949

• Board Meeting Date: 5/21/2001
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

NRCS's Operations Account for the Snow Survey and Water Supply Forecasting Program. The $2.5
million increase would cover cost increases and help meet operation and maintenance needs. Without
such an increase, NRCS has estimated it may not be able to operate some 10-15 percent of its
automated SNOTEL sites.

Wetlands Rules: On April 16, EP A Administrator Whitman announced the EP A would allow new
revised wetlands protection regulations, known as the "Tulloch Rule," to take effect on April 17.

In 1997, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ruled that previous Clean Water Act
(CW A) regulations, known as the "Tulloch Rule," should not have been extended to wetlands-
reducing activities, such as ditching and draining work.

In May 1999, EP A and the Corps of Engineers issued a final rule modifying their definition of
"discharge of dredged material." Further revisions to that definition were proposed in AuguSt of
2000, which are finalized with this new rule.

This latest regulation clarifies those types of activities that are likely to result in a "discharge of .
dredged material" subject to CW A section 404. The new regulations indicate that the use of earth
moving equipment to conduct land clearing, ditchingj channelization, in-stream mining, or other
earth-moving activities do result in a discharge of dredged material.

Corps of Engineers Denver Office: Van Shipley is the manager of the newly created Army Corps of
Engineer's Denver Office. Shipley moved from the LOuisville District, Planning Division, and
Environment Resources Branch. He is responsible for the creation and implementation of business
development programs for Colorado, including traditional civil works activities as well as support for
other Corps interests. Shipley will coordinate with the staffs of the four Districts (Omaha,
Albuquerque, Kansas City, and Sacramento) that operate within the State. He is authorized to
represent the District's interest at meetings and Corps' commitments. Van's telephone number is
[phone] and e-mail addressVan.Shipley@St~te.co.us.

Certified Floodplain Manager Program: The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)
has established a national program to certify floodplain managers. On March 14, Mark Matulik of the
Flood Protection Section was granted Certified Floodplain Manager status after passing the ASFPM
national exam. The primary goal of the ASFPM Certified Floodplain Manager Program is to help
reduce the nation's flood losses and protect and enhance the natural resources and functions of its
floodplains by improving the knowledge and abiIitie~ of floodplain managers in the United States.

Statewid~ Issues

Colorado Watershed Assembly: Staff from the Flood Protection Section are helping to coordinate a
second Colorado Watershed Assembly. The Assembly is designed to share information about
activities of and issues faced by all Colorado waterslted groups. A draft agenda is expected to be
distributed on May 15.

There is no single leader of or sponsor of the Colorado Watershed Assembly. A Steering Committee
has been made up of about 20 representatives of watershed groups.

Perhaps the most important operating principle is: "The Colorado Watershed Assembly is an
'organization of organizations"'. The Assembly provides a voice for watershed groups throughout
Colorado. The concerns and interests of these groups are varied, depending on the makeup of their
watershed.

Some of the groups or organizations that were repr~sented at last year's Assembly in August in
Keystone are already working with the CWCB (NFRIA on the North Fork of the GUlUlison River, the
Town of Basalt on the Roaring Fork River, PP ACO on Fountain Creek, Montgomery-Watson on the
Rio Grande). Assembly members are aware of the work of the CWCB in watersheds. Staff expects
that some groups that are members of the Assembly may approach the CWCB about assistance
(teclmical and financial) and about partnerships.

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