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<br />-2 - <br /> <br />expertise to address the research needs, and most importantly to begin control and eradication <br />efforts, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Staff believes the CWCB should assume a lead role in the tamarisk control effort given the Board's <br />interests in improving water supply and the beneficial use of water, preservation of riparian areas <br />through the instreamflow program, prevention of flood damages through channel maintenance, <br />Some estimates of the water consumed by tamarisk and Russian Olive indicate that successful <br />control could provide several hundred thousand acre-feet of water currently not available for use in <br />Colorado, potentially making tamarisk control a significant component of the enhanced water supply <br />being studied in the Statewide water Supply Investigation. <br /> <br />Federal Lel!islation: <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />There are currently three bills introduced in Congress that address tamarisk control: <br />. S, I 05l, Senator Domenici, which proposes a $50 million program in which the Dept. of <br />Interior fund a minimum of three demonstration projects, <br />. H,R. 695, Rep, McInnis, which proposes that USDA fund a $l million research program at <br />Mesa State College in Grand Junction, <br />. S, l236, Sen, Campbell, which proposes that the Dept. of Interior fund a 75% federal cost- <br />shared effort, with $20 million in the first year to begin widescale eradication through out the <br />west. <br /> <br />It is too early to know which bill, or combination of bill components, will pass, but the Coalition . <br />believes at least one will be successful. Rather than chose between the bills it is proposed that the <br />Director contact the sponsors of each of the bills stating Colorado's interest in this problem and the <br />need for federal assistance to make significant progress in restoring riparian areas. <br /> <br />Future Board Activities: <br /> <br />Staff believes that given the Board's interests in water supply, riparian areas, and flood mitigation it <br />should be an active participant in control efforts. Since each of the federal bills proposes <br />apportioning federal funds between the states based on the extent of the problem an accurate <br />inventory of the number of impacted acres in Colorado is the most important first step, and one that <br />the Board's decision support systems is ideally suited to address. We will be working with the <br />Coalition and the Division of Water Resources to develop a grant request to fund an inventory in at <br />least two major basins, probably the Arkansas and Colorado mainstem, These inventories would <br />potentially utilize a combination ofremote sensing, aerial surveys, and on-the-ground field surveys, <br />Additional research would be conducted, most likely with the coordination of the Coalition into <br />water use, control and revegetation strategies, and costs, Staffwill also work with EDO in meeting <br />the requirements and goals contained in the Governor's Executive Order, Staff welcomes discussion <br />and suggestions as to the level of involvement that Board believes is appropriate, <br /> <br />Attachment: Report - "Impact of Tamarisk Infestation on the Water Resources of Colorado" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Plarnting and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />