BOARD01957

• Board Meeting Date: 3/21/2006
• Description: CF Section - Fish and Wildlife Resources Fund - Colorado River Water Conservation District - Elkhead Reservoir Mitigation Plan Grant Request
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

Bill Owens
Governor

MEMORANDUM

Russell George
Executive Director

TO:

Rod Kuharich
ewes Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Mike Serlet, P.E., chiet-ttl r
Water Supply Planning and~nce Section

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

FROM:

DATE:

March 10, 2006

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 20a - March 21-22, 2006, Board Meeting
Water Supply Planning and Finance - Fish and Wildlife Resources Fund
Colorado River Water Conservation District - EIkhead Reservoir Enlargement
Project Mitigation Grant Request

Introduction

By letter dated February 28, 2006 (attached), the Colorado River Water Conservation District
(CRWCD) has requested a grant from the Fish and Wildlife Resources Fund (Fund) in the amount of
$1,048,554 for the mitigation of the wetlands and wildlife habitat affected by the enlargement of
Elkhead Reservoir. The purpose for this request is to help offset the District's expenses associated
with the habitat mitigation requirements of the Corps of Engineers 404 Permit.

Background

Provisions included in 37-60-122.2 C.R.S. establish the criteria and procedures associated
with providing grants from the Fund. Those criteria state that an eligible project is one that requires
an application for a permit, license or approval from the United States. In this case, a 404 permit
from the Corps of Engineers was required to complete the enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir. The
404 permit required the CRWCD to follow the action outlined in the CRWCD's mitigation plan as
reviewed and approved by the Fish and Wildlife Service relative to threatened and endangered fish
species in the Upper Colorado River basin. The plan outlined work required to mitigate the impacts
of the dam enlargement on endangered fish species and other wildlife and non-native fish habitat.
That work included, among other things, mitigating the loss of 37 acres of existing wetlands by
creating 37.8 acres of new wetlands including waterfowl nesting areas, assisting in preventing the
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning