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. Legal Ethics in Water & Environmental Law is scheduled for Wednesday, November 14,200; and an . Endangered Species Workshop is scheduled for November 16, 2001. Program and registration forms are available on line at htto:llwWw.cowatercongress.org/meeting notices.htrn Colorado Water Resource Research Institute's Upcoming programs: . October 3,2001 -- Colorado Lake and Management Association - Fall Conference . October 24-25,2001 -- 12th Annual South Platte Forum More information about these and other upcoming water related events can be found at http://www.cwrri.colostate.edu. Arkansas River Basin,Issues ; Fountain Creek GIS Project: The CWCB, in cooperation with Colorado Soil Conservation Board and the affected local communities, has put together a Geographic Infqrmation System mapping project on the Fountain Creek Watershed. The City of Colorado Springs, on behalf of 10 other communities (3 counties and 7 other municipalities), has submitted an application to the CWCB to contribute funds toward the local/state share of the cost of a General Investigation Study under direction of the Army Corps of Engineers - Albuquerque District. The Corps has received authorization 'and funding to implement this much-needed study. The Corps will pay half of the total 3-year cost of $35 million. Local and state agencies will pay the other half in three installments. The first of those installments is $675,000, and the City is requesting $300,000 from the CWCB toward that first installment. The GI Study will provide engineering, analyses, cost estimates and recommendations that will be used to seek:congressional authorization for construction of recommended projects to reduce erosion, sedimentation and flooding. Kansas V. Colorado Mediation: Attorney General Ken Salazar has announced an expedited schedule for initiating mediation efforts with the State of Kansas. These (jfforts will focus on both future Compact compliance issues and the means of determining and paying for damages owed to Kansas pursuant to the US Supreme Court's recent decision. Additional discussion oftlj,e Kansas case and the mediation process may occur during the Executive Session portion of the agenda. Arkansas Basin Water Quality: Staffis continuing to participate in discussions and monitor developments relating to water quality in the basin, and will report back to;the Board after an Issues Formulation Hearing to be held by the Water Quality Control Comm. in Lamar in early November. Many of the basin's water quality issues deal with non-point source pollutants mobilized by agriculture and in particular irrigation practices.. Solutions to these problems are typically address,led through incentive-based programs which encourage "Best Management Practices" and help to financ~ improved irrigation systems for local producers. In the Arkansas Basin there is the additional issue of imple~enting these programs in strict compliance with the provisions of the Arkansas River Compact, while potentially considering downstream water quality objectives adopted by the State of Kansas. The Board's role in these activities could be quite broad, and will require careful thought and clear guidance to staff. Pilot Water Banking Program: The State Engineer has b~gun the rule making process required by HB2001-1354. An initial informational meeting was hosted by the SECWCD on August 2, 2001 in Pueblo, and additional meetings are being held throughout the Bas~n this month and next. More formal rule making will commence in early 2002. Staff attended and particip#ed in the kickoff meeting. It was apparent that the Pilot Water Bank authorized by HB 1354 is not as comprehensive as what some interests contemplated . was needed to mitigate the impacts of agricultural water transfers in the Basin. A key limitation is that there is no funding to finance the purchase of water by the bank. Instead, the bank will basically function as a clearinghouse, matching willing sellers of stored water with those wanting to make a purchase. Still, there 10 . .