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<br />Kansas v Colorado: The states are unable to settle remaining issues in the case with the mediator.
<br />However, Kansas agreed to continue to consider the possibility of settlement upon completion of the final
<br />expert reports and related discovery. A telephone conference with the Special Master will be held in the near
<br />future to finalize the trial preparation schedule, We expect trial to begin in June to determine if there were
<br />depletions to usable Stateline flows between 1997 and 1999, to consider future compliance, and to complete
<br />the remedy phase ofthe case.
<br />
<br />Fountain Creek Watershed Study: The D,S. Army Corps of Engineers will be performing a General
<br />Investigation Watershed Study of the Fountain Creek Watershed to examine the issues of erosion,
<br />deposition, stream instability, and flooding. As part of the local share of the $3,5 million study budget,
<br />CWCB is providing the City of Colorado Springs with $300,000 in funding, In addition, the Colorado
<br />Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) will provide another $300,000,
<br />
<br />The scope of work for the Watershed Study is currently being developed by URS under contract to the
<br />Corps, in coordination with the eleven,member Fountain Creek Army Corps of Engineers Intergovemmental
<br />Task Force, CWCB participated in a scoping meeting being held by the Task Force on Jan, 11. The purpose
<br />of the meeting was to develop recommendations about the scope of work prior to being finalized and adopted
<br />by the Corps and the City of Colorado Springs (the local sponsor for the Watershed Study), Once the scope
<br />of work is finalized, a work schedule for carrying out the Watershed Study will be developed. A specific
<br />starting date for the study will be established when the scope of work has been completed,
<br />
<br />Colorado River Basin Issues
<br />
<br />Glen Canyon Adaptive Management: The Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) will meet in
<br />Phoenix on Jan, 17-18. The AMWG will be asked to approve a $7,877,000 budget and work plan for federal
<br />FY 2003, $774,000 of the proposed budget will be in the form of a request for additional appropriations,
<br />The states have not supported requests for additional appropriations and are unlikely to do so. AMWG will
<br />also review its strategic plan,
<br />
<br />Stephen Magnussen, the Director of the Grand Canyon Adaptive Management Program, is retiring from
<br />federal service after more than 40 years, Mike Gabeldon has been appointed by Interior Secretary Norton to
<br />replace Magnussen, Gabaldon is Reclamation's Deputy Director of Operation headquartered in Washington,
<br />D.C. Mr. Gabaldon began his Reclamation career in Montrose, Colorado in 1982, worked briefly on the
<br />Animas-La Plata Project. He was the Albuquerque Area Office Manager for 3 years prior to assuming the
<br />job Deputy Director of Operations,
<br />
<br />Colorado River Water Users Association Annual Meeting: I attended the annual meeting on December
<br />13-15 in Las Vegas, Nevada with Randy Seaholm, Greg Walcher, Scott Balcomb and Kent Holsinger.
<br />During the convention, we met with Interior Secretary Norton to discuss Colorado River Delta issues, We
<br />also met with the Western Area Power Administration briefly to discuss Gunnison River issues (Flow
<br />Recommendations and the NPS Reserved Water Right), Due to the events of September 11th, several key
<br />speakers did not attend as planned. However, the program was still very informative and a considerable
<br />amount of networking with Colorado River interests was accomplished. A copy of the agenda can be
<br />reviewed online at http://crwua,mwd,dst.ca.us/conference/agenda2001.htm, I have also attached a copy of
<br />Bennet Raley's remarks at the meeting.
<br />
<br />River District Grants: The Colorado River Water Conservation District is offering $150,000 in water
<br />resource grants in 2002, The grants are made for proj ects that put water to beneficial use, for watershed
<br />activities, projects that enhance water quality or conserve water. The District awarded $151,000 to 16 entities
<br />in 2001. Grants will be awarded in April and requests must be submitted by Feb, 15, More information is
<br />available at www.crwcd,gov,
<br />
<br />Snowmass Creek 404 Permit Update: As reported, we met with the Corps, Snowmass Water and
<br />Sanitation District, Snowmass/Capital Creek Caucus, and the Division of Wildlife in October to discuss the
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