|
<br />Tamarisk Update: As mentioned above, the U,S. House of Representatives passed the "Salt
<br />Cedar and Russian Olive Control, Assessment, and Demonstration Act," (HR 2707) on Feb, 24, .
<br />The bill provides funding for assessment of the problem, major demonstrations, research, and
<br />development oflong-term management and funding options, The Senate bill is very similar and
<br />passed the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Feb, II, Other updates include:
<br />
<br />. Colorado's to-year plan for tamarisk control was approved by Gov, Owens and he has
<br />directed DNR and Agriculture to implement the plan,
<br />
<br />. The USGS is interested in the effort by CWCB to inventory tamarisk infestations in the
<br />Colorado and Arkansas watersheds and is looking for ways to fund the matching share of
<br />$52,500, They see the information as a source for a database that they are establishing for
<br />the West and developing the protocols for other watersheds based on our experience,
<br />
<br />. The Departments of Interior and Agriculture are hosting a major Tamarisk Conference in
<br />Albuquerque, DNR and Agriculture are sending a group ofrepresentatives to present
<br />Colorado's positions,
<br />
<br />. The State Weed Coordinator, Eric Lane, is holding a meeting later this month to develop
<br />a comprehensive plan for the introduction of the Chinese leaf beetle as a bio-control
<br />agent.
<br />
<br />Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Recommendation Workshop Summary: On Feb, 17
<br />we held our annual Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Recommendation Workshop, This
<br />workshop provides an opportunity for any person, agency or organization to recommend stream
<br />reaches or natural lakes for inclusion into the Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program
<br />(Program), All workshop participants received Water Division Tabulations listing streams and .
<br />lakes under consideration for field data collection, Tabulations are available on the CWCB web
<br />site at http://cwcb,state,co,us/isfi'WorkPlanJ2004Workplan,htm
<br />
<br />The workshop also provided an opportunity to comment on the proposed 2004-05-field data
<br />collection plan, After reviewing recommendations from the public, we highlighted several
<br />streams and lakes to be considered for field data collection in 2004 and discussed the streams and
<br />lakes highlighted in each Water Division, The majority of the discussion at the workshop
<br />centered on streams proposed in Water Divisions 4, 6, and 7.
<br />
<br />Selection of Streams and Lakes for Protection
<br />
<br />The Program is continuing to work to address the many complex and challenging issues
<br />regarding instream flow protection, The Program will likely continue to address important
<br />emerging issues such as water requirements for declining, threatened and/or endangered species,
<br />identifying methods for determining instream flow needs for non- fisheries, and the correlation of
<br />mankind's need for future economic growth and development with reasonable preservation of the
<br />natural environment. However, with current staff and resource constraints, staff cannot process
<br />every recommendation that is brought forth, Therefore, it is critical that staff prioritize instream
<br />flow and natural lake level appropriation activities,
<br />
<br />Our work plan identifies approximately 100 stream segments and natural lakes for possible data
<br />collection in 2004, By identifying these streams and natural lakes in advance, we have the
<br />flexibility needed to adjust work schedules to account for unforeseen or unfavorable data
<br />collection conditions, which may occur in a specific water division or watershed, .
<br />
<br />Streams and lakes are identified for instream flow or natural lake level water right protection for
<br />many different reasons, The DOW's philosophy on setting priorities comes from the agency's
<br />Mission Statement and Long Range Plan, Guidance for those priorities also comes from other
<br />
<br />8
<br />
|