BOARD01657

• Board Meeting Date: 3/24/2003
• Description: Fish & Wild life Mitigation Accound Requests
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Proiect Number:
.proiect Name:
Proiect Applicant:

03-01

Water Acquisition Program - Strategic Plan

CWCS Stream and Lake Protection Section Staff

Amount Requested:

$15,000

Proiect Description:

SB 73-97 authorized the CWCB to acquire water for instream flows to preserve the natural
environment. The acquisition process was further clarified by legisiation in 1986 and 2002. To date, the
CWCB has completed 21 water right acquisitions.

The recent passage of SB 02-156 increased opportunities for water users and federal agencies to rely
on the State's Water Acquisition Program in meeting resource protection goals. This project contemplates
preparation of a strategic plan for the Water Acquisition Program that will define the acquisition process,
outline contractual and funding tools, describe the required water court actions and outline protection
strategies for decreed acquisitions.

A proposed outline for the document would include:

.

1. History and Goals of the Water Acquisition Program
2. Legal and Financial Mechanisms
3. Contractual Tools
4. Evaluating Water Rights for Acquisition
5. Partnerships
6. Water Court Actions
7. Protecting Acquired Water
8. Evaluating Success

Applicabilitv of Proiect:

This study will assist the Board in implementing Policy #15 by:

. Providing certainty to water users and federal agencies considering a water acquisition to
mitigate the impacts of an existing water project;
. Facilitating resolution of federal water rights issues; and
. Demonstrating opportunities to accomplish resource protection goals in a manner
consistent with state water law.

.

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning