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<br />> <br /> <br />. Work Group: Although Tim Henley has retired from the Arizona DWR he will remain as Chainnan <br />for the Work Group as an aspect of his consulting contract with his former employer. . <br />. General: <br />. Proposals submitted in response to the USBR Request for Proposals ["RFP"] issued on December <br />30. 2005 were reviewed by an evaluation team ["TPEC"] in Salt Lake City the week of April 24, <br />2006. Preliminary indications are that approximately 8 of the 24 proposals will receive funding. <br />. We need to increase our efforts with staff at the WQCD for discussion with both the Ute <br />Mountain Ute Tribe and the Southern Utes regarding salinity standards in their adoption of Tribal <br />Water Quality Standards. EP A indicated an aggressive stance in insisting that we treat "the <br />Tribes as States", pursuant to provisions of the Clean Water Act. We reminded EP A that the <br />"Tribes as States" mandate applies to EP A. and that the states, recognizing tribal sovereignty, <br />have their own processes for cooperating with tribes which we will continue. <br />. The Silt area was formally accepted into the USDA program making it eligible for EQIP <br />designated salinity funds and Basin State cost-sharing. Studies showing potential salt load <br />reductions from small acreages in the DeBeque and Whitewater areas will be evaluated and <br />considered in the fall. <br />. The states have reached agreement with USBR on the Basin Fund's 25% repayment obligation for <br />the Paradox Unit located on the Dolores River in western Montrose County. The deep brine <br />injection well is expected to continue working for an additional 20 years and will be amortized <br />accordingly. USBR and the Forum will continue discussions of options for brine disposal if and <br />when the injection well is no longer operational. This important project removes 100,000 tons of <br />salt from the basin each year, and provides water quality benefits to water users and the <br />environment in Colorado below Paradox. <br />. The Forum gave preliminary approval to a 20% increase [from approximately $30,000 to <br />$36,000] in state assessments for FY07-08 due to the increased costs of coordinating the <br />expanded federal program. This will necessitate a decision item for the Board's budget. . <br />. There are several areas of contention with the Republic of Mexico regarding salinity <br />measurements and standards at the border. Mexico appears to believe these issues can only be <br />resolved if larger issues surrounding lining of the All American Canal and relief on the Rio <br />Grande delivery are also compromised [although Mexico recently satisfied its several years of <br />outstanding debt, it has again begun accumulating a large deficit on 2006 Rio Grande tributary <br />deliveries to the US]. The mwc and US State Deparbnent have rejected such linkage. The <br />salinity issues will be next addressed by technical teams from both countries. <br /> <br />New Forum Members Appointed: On April 20, Salinity Control Forum members were notified that <br />Dennis 1. Strong from Utah had been elected to serve on the Forum and the Advisory Council to replace <br />the retiring Larry Anderson. Mr. Strong was named Director ofthe Utah Division of Water Resources in <br />March 2006. <br /> <br />Metro Water District of Sonthern CaUfornia Manager Refines Team: On March 14, Metropolitan <br />Water District General Manager Jeff Knightlinger announced that he is adding water policy expert Roger <br />K. Patterson to his executive team. Mr. Patterson will join Debra C. Man, MWD's chief operating <br />officer, as assistant general managers in the Office of the General Manager. Patterson had previously been <br />serving as a consultant to Metropolitan on Colorado River issues, and will be assistant general manager of <br />water planning and resources. He will oversee Colorado River issues and the management ofMWD's <br />water planning and resources group. Man will continue to oversee the district's day-to-day core <br />operations and business functions.. In addition to Kightlinger, Man. and Patterson, the Office of the <br />General Manager includes a chief administrative office and two deputy general managers. Brian Thomas <br />remains as the districts Chief Financial Officer, Gilbert F. Ivey takes over as Metropolitans' Chief <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />16 <br />