BOARD01367

• Board Meeting Date: 3/16/2004
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Reclamation. Executive Direclor of the CALFED Bay-Della Program. General Manager of the
San Diego Coumy Water Authority; and Direclor of the Tucson Ground Water Acti\"e
Managemenl Area for thc Aril-ona Department of\\'ater Resources. SnO\.... 52, earned a Master
of Science degree in water resources administration from the University of Arizona. and a
Bachelor of Science in earth sciences from Pennsylvania Statc L:niversity.

Colorado \\'ater Trusl - Donation of \Vale[ Ri~hts in the Blue Rin'r Drainage, Summit
COUnt~.: In May 2003, C\\lCB staff and the Colorado Waler Trust were contacted by a water
right owner in Summit COUnty who was interested in selling a senior irrigation righl for use for
conservalion purposes.

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(/{iSlorica/~l' irrigated lands)

The Waler Trust has also cvaluated the waler
right for potential conser\"alion benefils. The
stream segments thaI could potelllially benelil
from the waler right acquisition arc identified 011
the Colorado Water Trusl's planning map emil/cd
"Potential Conservations Interests" as being a
Gold 1\1cd.ll Fishery, a T!\'C AQuatic Priority
~lainstem. and Watershort lCWCB multiple flow
periods),

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{Fish sampling on lite Blue Ri\'erj

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'The water righl is localed on Boulder Creek. a
lributary to tbe Blue River near Green Mounlain
Reservoir, and has a good record of historic use
for irrigation. eWCB and Water Trust staffs
have mct with the sellcrs 10 discuss their needs
and goals. Additionally, CWCll slatThas
reviewed the technical and legal characteristics
of the water right, conducted two site visilS and
colleeled additional field dala. Infomlalion
gathered to date indicates that the watcr righl
could potentially be used to benefit eWCB's
instream now rights on both the lributary stream
and the Blue River. which is a designated Gold
~1edal fishery.

Recogniling the oppOrtunilies for partllership. and
alter considering the owner's limeframe for sale,
the Water Trust decided to purchase the Water
right and donate ilia the CWCB 10 preserye or
impro\-e Ihe nalural environment. The Water
Trust has entered into an oplion agreement wilh
the owners and tendered eamest money. CWCB
slaffis curremly working with lhe Trust to
develop an Acquisition Agreement, and will
presem the proposal to the eWes Board tor
consideration in l\lay 2004. Ifno objections an:
raisL'u. the Board could lake linal aClion 011 the

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