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<br />-,- <br /> <br />........ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />programmatic activities and the purposes of the Construction Fund. The 50/50 <br />assumption has required several policy inquiries recently and is difficult to justifY in <br />various situations. In addition, I detect a growing anxiety on the part of a few legislators <br />who express frustration over the use of Construction Funds for the initial development of <br />decision support systems followed by requests for General Funds to cover long-term <br />operating expenses. Clearly, discussions on this issue need to include many of the water <br />users who have helped establish and build the Construction Fund and a sound policy <br />would avoid complications where we don't really need them. <br /> <br />Joint Agriculture Committee Presentation As I mentioned at our January 1998 <br />meeting, Hal Simpson and I had a chance to brief the combined House and Senate <br />Agriculture and Natural Resources Committees concerning top priorities major <br />accomplishments of the Division of Water Resources and the CWCB. Patti Wells was <br />able to attend that briefing with us and I saw many indications that legislators appreciate <br />the extra contact with Board members. I took the opportunity to highlight the following <br />initiatives: <br />. The modified Animas-La Plata Project; <br />· The programmatic efforts to reduce regulatory uncertainty for water projects related <br />to the federal Endangered Species Act; <br />. The next steps resulting from the Metro Water Supply Investigation; <br />· The decision support systems developed for the Colorado River and in progress for <br />the South Platte and Rio Grande; <br />· Flood protection and flood recovery assistance and related funding needs; and <br />· The accomplishments of the water conservation program established by HB 91-1154. <br /> <br />During the question and answer session, Representative Taylor (R-Steamboat <br />Springs) expressed frustration that the Board has not taken a strong stand on the <br />President's "American Heritage Rivers" program. Senator Ament joined with <br />suggestions that the Board should get out in front in educating the public on the need to <br />construct more storage, to balance water supply and flood protection needs with <br />protection for declining species and to avoid the difficulties associated with federal <br />involvement in water resource planning and management. These issues may provide <br />stimulating fuel for discussion at our next long range planning retreat! <br /> <br />PHE C:/MyDocuments/03B Mar98 Director's Report <br />L:lboardmemlmar98\03B <br />