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" . Mineral County commissioners on water issues. The board authorized Robbins, district general manager Steve Vandiver and board chairman Ray Wright to file with the court. David Robbins Reports to Rio Grande WCD on Ground Water Rules and Regulations Trial: On April 25, David Robbins reported on the recent ground water rules and regulations trial. District Judge O. John Kuenhold wants both sides to file their findings of fact and conclusions of law by May 6 but the district may ask for a week's extension. Then Kuenhold will take the matter under advisement. Robbins said Kuenhold could take one of several actions: uphold the state engineer's rules and regulations on use of groundwater in the SL V, disapprove the rules or deliver an interim ruling approving some rules and disapproving others. Robbins said the case, no matter what Kuenhold decides, likely will be appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court. He said the next case up of import to the district is the federal request for water rights at the Great Sand Dunes National Park, with trial likely next year, and he noted that the Natural Area legislation for several miles of the Rio Grande, from the Alamosa Wildlife Refuge to the New Mexico state line, could be passed by Congress by the end of the year. . San Luis Valley Hall Cannon Permit Hearing: On May 4, 2006 Staff and Susan Schneider from the Attomey General's Office conducted a public hearing as part of a renewal application by Southern Colorado Farms (SFC) for their hail cannon pennit. SFC has had two five-year permits from 1996-2005, and they are now requesting an extension for their operations. Thirty-two people signed the attendance sheet for the hearing and CWCB Member Travis Smith participated in the hearing as well. Approximately 3/4 of those attending the hearing opposed the renewal of the pennit for the hail cannons, and several of the area ranchers requested that the state place a moratorium on the hail cannons for 3-5 years to determine how much affect they have on the weather. The public record will remain open until May 12"' and staff has received several phone calls in addition to comments from the hearing. Staff will develop recommendations based on the hearing and subsequent feedback from interested parties. Draft recommendations will be distributed to the Board prior to publication. San Juan/San MlgueI/Dolores River Basin San Juan Public Lands - "Government-to-Government Roundtable" Update: The San Juan Public Lands - "Plan for the Future" is a long-term planning effort by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the San Juan Basin of southwestern Colorado. The San Juan Public Lands Center, as the joint USFS/BLM management unit is known, is the first governmental unit of this type to conduct such a joint long-range planning effort. This plan will address the management of over 2.5 million acres of National Forest and BLM lands. As part of this planning effort a "Government-to-Government Roundtable" was formed to lead discussions on water issues in the plan revision process. Since the first meeting of the Roundtable in May 2005, meetings have been held on a monthly basis. The process began by laying a foundation of information for the Roundtable participants. Topics discussed included: applicable Federal and State laws, the Multiple Use concept, the process - a Deliberation Funnel, the State's Instrearn Flow Program. stream needs and expectations from a fishery perspective. water facilities permitting requirements, Wild and Scenic River analyses. and Wilderness Areas. The focus of the meetings has now shifted to reviewing the desired outcomes the various participants brought to the process and how these can be addressed in the draft management plans. Still at issue are the large number of stream segments proposed as "eligible" (56) on the SJPL draft list of . stream segments that may be eligible for consideration under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. A three- 23