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<br />" <br /> <br />.. review their intentions in resolving this issue, but apparently, they filed our letter with the rest of the <br />.. public comments (they don't respond to comments). <br /> <br />We have scheduled a meeting for Monday, January 24, with the Colonel and his staff. In my <br />conversation with Art Champ, Chief of the regulatory responsibilities in Sacramento, we learned that he <br />and Colonel Walsh believe our concerns will be easily resolved. I'll be able to give you additional details <br />at the meeting. <br /> <br />TMDL Update: We have written to the EPA regarding our concerns about the proposed TMDL <br />rule. A copy of the letter is attached. <br /> <br />Denver Reuse Project: We have written to Sen. Campbell expressing our support for S. 1848. A <br />copy of the letter is attached. <br /> <br />White River National Forest Plan: On December 28, Greg Walcher wrote to the U.S. Forest <br />Service expressing concerns about the proposed White River National Forest Plan. A copy of Greg's <br />cover letter is attached. The documents sent to the Forest Service included attachments we provided: a <br />map of our instream flow segments, a tabulation of instream flow water rights, a tabulation of natural lake <br />level water rights, a tabulation of Statements of Oppositions we have filed.involving stream within the <br />forest and a list of our acquisition agreements. All of these documents are available on the Internet at <br />www.dnr.state.co.us. The comment period on the draft plan has been extended until May 9. <br /> <br />Tribal Water Rights: On December 15, the Nevada Sixth Judicial District Court issued an <br />injunction against the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada. The injunction prohibits the U.S. <br />.. District Court from further proceedings in the matter of State Engineer, et al. v. South Fork Band of the <br />.. Te-Moak Shoshone Tribe, et al. The Nevada court is relying on a state statute for authority. The statute <br />gives Nevada district courts exclusive jurisdiction over water rights determinations. The Tribe is <br />attempting to remove its water rights case to federal court. <br /> <br />Irrigation Water Supply Statistics: The U.S. National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) <br />has released its 1998 Fann and Ranch Irrigation Survey. The survey shows a significant increase in <br />irrigated acreage nationwide. There are some 1.9 million farms in the U.S., covering 931 million acres. <br />Only 14.6% of all fannland is irrigated. Irrigated acreage increased by over 7% from 49.4 million acres to <br />55 million acres between 1992 and 1997. California has the most irrigated acreage (8.7 million acres) and <br />Colorado came in sixth with 3.4 million acres. For more information visit www.nass.usda.gov, or for <br />copies of the report (Irrigation, Nov. 99, Vol. VII, No, 6) call 1-800-727-9540. <br /> <br />Job Changes: Assistant Secretary oflnterior for Water and Science, Patricia J. Beneke, left her <br />job on Jan. 14 without announcing further plans and Michael Roluti has been named Director of the <br />Bureau of Reclamation's Technical Services Center in Denver. <br /> <br />Endangered Species and Indian Water Rights: On December 9, we sponsored a meeting in <br />Denver with the federal Working Group on the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Indian Water Rights. <br />The Working Group expects to finalize its report and recommendations and submit them to Interior <br />Secretary Babbitt very soon. The draft recommendations direct federal agencies to take into account how <br />ESA Section 7 consultations effect the exercise of Indian water rights, perha.\ls by including the Indian <br />water rights in the environmental baseline the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services uses to issue "favorable <br />e opinions." As a result, we intend to join many other western states in a letter to the Working Group that <br /> <br />3 <br />