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<br />-2 - <br /> <br />. <br />e <br /> <br />escapement of non-native fish by screening the outlet works including automatic air backwashing <br />systems, and providing 5,000 acre-feet of "permanent water" and 2,000 acre-feet of "temporary <br />water" which will augment the natural hydro graph and help maintain the endangered fish critical <br />habitat. <br /> <br />Additionally the statute states that an applicant is eligible for a grant if the mitigation cost <br />recommendations exceed 5% of the total cost of the water project. In this case the total cost of the <br />mitigation work was $3,170,406, or 15% of the total project cost of $20,971,082. The applicant's <br />share for the work will be the first 5% and the grant from the Fund will be for the remainder of the <br />costs, not to exceed 5%. The disbursement of the grant monies is also limited to 70% of the total <br />grant amount in any fiscal year. <br /> <br />Finally, the statute requires that the Division of Wildlife and the Wildlife Commission be <br />notified of the grant application and the Commission agrees with the mitigation plan for the facility. <br />The Commission must then forward its findings to the CWCB, and the Board will then adopt the <br />plan as the official state position on the mitigation actions required of the applicant. <br /> <br />Discussion <br /> <br />Staff has received the attached notification from the Division of Wildlife Director, that the <br />Colorado Wildlife Commission has reached agreement with the CRWCD concerning wildlife <br />mitigation for the Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement Project. Under the provisions of the wildlife <br />mitigation statute 37-60-122.2 C.R.S. the Board is required to adopt the mitigation plan as the <br />official state position when notified that such agreement occurs. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The Fund was last refreshed to $5 million by provisions of HB 02-1152, the annual <br />Construction Fund bill. The current balance of the Fund is over $4 million. The grant request <br />therefore is well within the financial resources of the Fund. Another stipulation of the statute <br />addresses distributing the Fund monies equally between the east and the west slope. This condition <br />is generally met with the annual distribution of funds as part of the South Platte River Cooperative <br />Agreement. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Board adopt the mitigation plan approved by the Colorado <br />Wildlife Commission as the official state position on wildlife mitigation for the Elkhead Reservoir <br />Enlargement project, and award the Colorado River Water Conservation District a grant from the <br />Fish and Wildlife Resources Fund to cover the eligible design and construction costs of the <br />mitigation plan in the amount of $1 ,048,554. <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />