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. Product Produced: This request is for a second year of severance tax funding at $50,000; $50,000 being allocated last year. The purpose of this project is to fund a portion of a cooperative Transit Loss Study to be conducted by the USGS, under contract with several water user groups in the Fountain Creek drainage. This portion is referred to as "Phase 2: Update" and focuses on the reach of Fountain Creek from Colorado Springs to Pueblo. The main activity will be updating an existing transit loss model, originally developed by USGS in cooperation with Colorado Springs in the 1980's. The update will add capabilities to make the model more flexible and better able to incorporate real time data, particularly as to water users and operations not considered as part of the original model. The exact nature and a detailed proposal are being developed at this time in a series of meetings with interested parties, including the SECWCD, USGS, CWCB, and the Division 2 Engineer. After the proposal is developed, reviewed and approved by the SECWCD, it is expected that SECWCD will take over coordination of funding and management of the Phase 2 study component. The other portion of the study, "Phase I: Extension" is being coordinated through the EI Paso County Water Authority, and is being funded in part with a $100,000 CWCB Construction Fund Grant. Both portions will be conducted simultaneously and in full coordination, Water Planning Relationship: The completed study and accounting model will enable water users and the Division 2 Engineer to more closely track and utilize re-useable water in the Fountain Creek basin, thereby maximizing beneficial use of water subject to both the Arkansas River and Colorado River Compacts. It will also facilitate conjunctive use of the groundwater supplies in northern El Paso County, . Recommendation: Staff gives a high recommendation to funding for this cooperative study because it will allow maximum utilization of limited water supplies consistent with the Colorado River Compact and other mandates to reuse imported water supplies using a consensus building process, The Model will also provide documentation that well augmentation deliveries are being made properly in time and amount, facilitating compliance with the Arkansas River Compact. 8. Bent Tamarisk Removal Project Beneficiary/Grantee/Contractor: Bent Conservation District, Bent County Water Users, Partners in Tamarisk Removal, NRCS, USF&W Amount of Request: $49,000 Ranking: Low Product Produced: This demonstration project will educate the community in Bent County, provide treatment of Tamarisk, and maintain long-term management of this invasive problem. The Bent Conservation District, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program and Bent County are teaming with various groups and agencies to address the issue of Tamarisk in the Arkansas and Purgatorie watersheds, Two hundred and fifty acres of Tamarisk ridden river bottom along the Purgatorie and Arkansas Rivers are being targeted for mechanical and chemical treatment. Educating the Bent County community on the detriments of Tamarisk, appropriate treatment, and proper riparian management will be included in this project. Water Planning Relationship: Tamarisk being an invasive plant that leaves salt residue in the soil displacing native vegetation crowds streams and rivers making them less usable for both humans and wildlife. These plants can consume excessive amounts of water. Removal of tamarisk can mitigate these problems and reduce transit losses that may deprive water users of a portion of the water yield associated with their water rights. Education and management are needed to ensure this problem does not reoccur. 7