BOARD01004

• Board Meeting Date: 9/24/2001
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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. Rio Grande Basin Issues

Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project Multi-Objective River Corridor Plan: In August 2001 a
comprehensive study was finalized to address issues on 91 miles of the Rio Grande River from the upstream
corporate limit of the town of South Fork, downstream to the A1amosa-Conejos County line. The Plan has
identified short-term and long-term implementation priorities for the near future. These priorities include a
"top twelve" list of structural proj ects for which design and construction could be started as soon as approval
and funding were approved. There are also non-structural recommendations including regulations and the
creation of a River Task Force to implement the recommendations. Preliminary indications are that the Rio
Grande County Commissioners are seriously considering creating such a River Task Force so the work can
begin immediately. For questions about this project please call Brian Hyde of the CWCB staff.

RecIamation Selects Area Manager to Lead the Albuquerque Area Office: The Buteau of Reclamation
has selected Kenneth G. Maxey to head the Albuquerque Area Office. Maxey is currently the senior planning
advisor to the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) headquartered in Golden,
Colorado. Maxey began his Federal career with the Buteau of Reclamation in Sacramento, California. He
then spent nine years in the Commissioner of Reclamation's office and on the staff of the Assistant Secretary
for Water and Science.

Willow Creek Restoration Committee: Willow Creek is a tributary to the Rio Grande that flows through
the City of Cree de. The Willow Creek Restoration Committee represents local interests as well as state and
federal agencies in an effort to address water quality, habitat, and flooding concerns on the creek. Fout
major components of the watershed infrastructure that will be addressed are: 1) mine-related water quality
. problems in the watershed upstream of Cree de; 2) problems with ensuring that flood flows enter the Corps of
Engineers flood control flume that conveys floodwaters through Creede, that they do not bypass the flume,
and that debris problems upstream of Creede do not interfere with flood flows entering the flume; 3)
concerns on the part of the Corps that the 50-year old flume should be completely replaced; and 4) a desire to
restore the stream downstream of Creede where it meanders through mine tailings on its way to the
confluence with the Rio Grande. CWCB is providing $15,000 in Severance Tax funding, to be combined
with $12,000 in FEMA Project Impact funding, to conduct an engineering analysis for item # 2 above. The
engineering analysis will address the hydraulic conditions upstream ofthe flume in Creede and the debris
problems in those stream reaches of Willow Creek and its tributaries. The study will also propose designs
for specifically addressing these problems.

Great Sand Dunes National Park Designation Celebrated: On September 10th, dignitaries from around
the sate and Washington, D.C celebrated the eventual designation of the Great Sand Dunes National
Monument as a National Park. Speakers included Dunes superintendent Steve Chaney; Mark Butget, director
of the Nature Conservancy of Colorado; Kit Kimball, representing the U.S. Department of the Interior; U.S.
Senators Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Wayne Allard; and U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis. The story of the
national monument began in the 1930s when members of the PEO Sisterhood started an effort to have the
sand dunes designated by the federal government.

The actual designation is stalled by litigation involving the sale of the 1 OO,OOO-acre Baca Ranch, considered
integral to the national park, which must include as many ecosystems as possible in order to provide visitors
with a broad spectrum of experiences.

San Juan and Dolores River Issues

Dolores River Floodplain Tour: Several of our staff with will be touring portions of the Dolores River on
September 26th at the invitation of county officials and local citizens. The county is interested in any help we
may be able to provide in evaluating changes in floodplains as a result of gravel mining in the area.

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