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Korean Delegation Visits: On Dec. 6, we hosted a delegation of Korean water engineers. We exchanged information about water management, flood control, and project construction issues. New Bureau of Land Management Director: The Senate confirmed Kathleen Clark, former Director of . the Utah Department of Natural Resources, as the new Director of the U,S. Bureau of Land Management. Mr. Robert Morgan, Utah State Engineer, will replace Ms, Clark as Director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Endangered Species Decision: On Dec. 17,2001, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided in Arizona Cattle Growers' Association v, U,S, Fish and Wildlife Service (No, 99-16102) that the USFWS acted in an arbitrary and capricious manner when it issued an Incidental Take Statement (ITS) for grazing permits on lands administered by the BLM and U.S, Forest Service, The Court held that the USFWS may not condition the use of federal lands under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and issue an ITS, without evidence that the "taking" of a protected species was "reasonably certain to occur," This decision is likely to affect the issuance of future biological opinions on federal lands, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Colorado Service Center New Projects: There are three new projects being "Scoped" by the Corps: · Upper Reaches of Cheny Creek Reservoir - this is an ecosystem restoration proj ect. · Cherry Creek - this is an ecosystem restoration project above Cherry Creek Reservoir, . Boulder County - this is an ecosystem restoration project east of the city, New Division Commander and Other News: On Dec. 12, we met with General Fastabend, the new Northwest Division Engineer, and Mike White, the Civilian Chief of Civil Works, Northwest Division, They had traveled to Denver to meet with the Mayor of Denver, the EP A, the Urban Drainage and Flood Control District, and officials from the DNR. e We gave the General a status report on our projects, especially the Cheny Creek Study, Mr, White expressed the importance of getting the National Weather Service and the state to agree on precipitation numbers and the final report from the Cherry Creek PMP project so the Corps can adopt an acceptable Probable Maximum Flood study. White also stated that the Corps would ensure funding for the Chatfield study. Our Chatfield discussions included the on-going reallocation study and coordination with State Parks' "Park modernization project." According to State Parks, the amount in the Corps 2002 Operations and Maintenance budget was $300,000 each for Trinidad, Cheny Creek and Chatfield State parks to undertake renovation projects in 2002, The plan is to work with the Corps to continue funding for a 20 year period for a total project cost of $30 million ($15 million from the state and $15 million from the Corps). The Corps and State Parks are reluctant to move forward with modernization until the CWCB's reallocatidn study is completed. We expect Corps officials to attend our March Board me~ting to make a presentation and discuss projects and issues. If you projects you would like the Corps to cqnsider for funding,-please bring a request letter to the March meeting and be prepared to discuss the project The individuals attending may change, but we are expecting a Division Engineer and at least one project management chief for the districts. The Corps is also working on a calendar of Corps project ,funding deadlines and important dates that will be housed on the Colorado Service Office web site, The Colorado Service Office will also produce a monthly newsletter of Corps activities in the near future. If you hate any questions regarding the US Army Corps of Engineers please call Van V. Shipley ofthe Colorado Serivice Office at (303) 894-2044, Statewide Issues CWCB Board Members Re-appointed: The terms of three members were to expire in February: Harold Miskel (Colorado Springs/Arkansas River Basin) , Don Schwindt (Cortez/San Juan, San Miguel and Dolores 4 e