BOARD01934

• Board Meeting Date: 11/25/2002
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Resources Graduate Seminar at CSu. Dan Merriman and Anne Janicki were also speakers at the .
Colorado Soil and Water Conservation Society Workshop in Colorado Springs.

Wildlife Drought Task Force Update: Task Force representatives reported that September
precipitation was above, to much above average over most of the mountain areas, the western slope
and the southeastern plains areas of the state, Preliminary estimates for water year 2002 indicate
precipitation totals will approach 60 percent of average statewide. Although that number is less than
the 70 percent value that is commonly considered to be a severe drought, task force members
reminded everyone that it will take several wet years to fill many of the state's reservoirs,

Internet Access to Instream FlowDecrees: Stream and Lake Protection Section staff has been
working to develop Internet access to the digital images of in stream flow documents, Once
completed, the links will allow public access to images of instream flow and natural lake water right
decrees, stipulations entered in water right cases, and decrees for water right acquisitions. The
Internet links are expected to be completed in the next few months and will be accessible through the
CWCB's home page, Eventually every program will have similar access to important information as
a part of the Water Resources Information Center.

Water Right Acquisition Investigations: Interest in the Water Acquisition Program remains steady.
Since September, staff has researched three offers to donate or lease water rights for instream flows.
One offer involving an irrigation water right in the Blue River basin looks promising. Staffis
plarming a field visit and will review existing engineering reports and diversion records. An
individual interested in providing financial to support to the program has also contacted staff. Staff is
researching streams that may benefit from additional, purchased water,

Colorado Water Trust Update: The Colorado Water Trust, established last year to assist in water .
acquisitions for conservation benefits, has recently appointed a new Executive Director. John
Carney, formerly with Ducks Unlimited, joined the Trust this month. Mr. Carney replaces former
Executive Director Peter Nichols, who left the Trust to join the Denver law firm of Trout, Witwer &
Freeman.

Section 309 Study Advisory Group: Staff continues to follow the Section 309 Study Advisory
Group and often participates in its monthly meetings. As previously reported, H,B.02-1344 created a
new Section 25-8-309 in the Colorado Water Quality Act. It requires that the Water Quality Control
Division (WQCD) to undertake a study to examine whether the state water quality control program
standard-setting and classification process should be modified to accommodate the unique attributes
of Colorado's water bodies.

The WQCD has established a "Section 309 Study Advisory Group" to provide advice and
information as it proceeds with this effort, Thirty to 60 participants, representing various interests
attend the monthly meetings held on the 4th Monday of every month. The goals of the Study include
developing refined aquatic life classifications and to develop a better system for assessing attainment
of aquatic uses. The Advisory Group will also discuss the benefits of maintaining the functions of
constructed water conveyances and storage facilities, as well as, the benefits associated with
maintaining downstream ecosystems that are dependent on the continuation of effluent discharges.

The meeting summary and comments from the Oct. 28 meeting are attached. The next Advisory
Group meeting is scheduled for Nov, 25 at the DRCOG new office building,

Water Quality Forum: Staff also continues its participation at the Colorado Water Quality Forum .
(CWQF). Attached is the "group memory" from the last CWQF meeting that was held on Sept. 23.

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