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<br />STATE OF COLORADO <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 721 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866,3441 <br />FAX: (303) 866,4474 <br />www.cwcb.state.co.us <br /> <br /> <br />MEMORANDUM <br /> <br />Bill Owens <br />Governor <br /> <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board - Finance Committee <br />Larry Lang, Chief - Flood Protection Program <br />Ray Alvarado, Decision Support System Program <br />Joe Busto, Flood Protection Program <br />Michelle Garrison, Water Supply Protection Program <br />November 4, 2004 <br />Agenda Item IS.g. Non-Reimbursable Investments <br />Enhanced Snowpack Assessment in Colorado - Phase II <br /> <br />Russell George <br />Executive Director <br /> <br />Rod Kuharich <br />eweB Director <br /> <br />DATE: <br />RE: <br /> <br />Dan McAuliffe <br />Deputy Director <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />IntroaUctlon <br />CWCB staff and The Bureaus River Systems and Meteorology Group set out to collaborate on a snowpack <br />assessment project to provide modeled snowpack data and mapping on behalf of all water management in <br />Colorado. The River Systems and Meteorology Group is housed in Reclamation's Technical Services Center has <br />access to federal funding to match other funding for projects that utilize advancements in technology for better <br />water management. Their mission closely matches that of the CWCB. Larry Lang choose from a menu of <br />potential new data and analysis tools the concept of SNODAS (Snow Data Assimilation System) or a snowpack <br />grid for Colorado. This concept was further refined to model precipitation using QPE - SUMS to track snowpack <br />accumulation and melt out over the SNODAS grid. This will provide quantitative snowpack information for use in <br />water management and spring snowmelt flooding threats by USGS sub-basins. <br /> <br />Discussion <br />This project has the potential after initiation to help provide a new useful data source for snowpack data and <br />mapping snow water content, snow depth and other parameters for sub basins in Colorado. All CWCB programs <br />could potentially use the data from this project to assist in program missions. Phase I funding of $42K CWCB <br />funding helped secure thc SNODAS grid and mirror it up to the USGS HUC Basins and provide initial model runs. <br />The Bureau also developed a website for the project that provides a full snow season of snowpack modeled runs for <br />2003-2004. October - April 2004 monthly animations of snow water equivalent (SWE) are available as well as <br />daily SWE maps. Future maps will include snow depth, snowmelt run off at base of snowpack and sublimation. <br />This product is compatible with the vision of a State snowmelt runoff model. <br /> <br />Staff Request <br />The Staff requests that the Board approve the request for Phase 11 funding for this project. Current <br />comprehensive estimates are that the project bc complcted for a cost of approximately $331,000. State funding <br />has been $42K 2003-04 Severance Tax, $1 OK 2004-05 Severance Tax, $65K 2005-06 Severance Tax <br />(requested), plus the (requested) $IOOK in this memo for a total state funding of $209K. The Bureau has <br />requested $78K FFY 04 and $69KFFY 05 funds to match the CWCB for a total of$147K federal funding. <br />Multiple staff members support and have worked on this project and request the Board approve the $100,000 <br />request. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation <br />Staff recommends that the Board request that the General assembly authorize up to $100,000 from the <br />Construction Fund to be appropriated to the Colorado Water Conservation Board for technical activities <br />related to the Enhanced Snowpack Assessment in Colorado Project. <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning <br />