BOARD02336

• Board Meeting Date: 9/27/1999
• Description: Directors' Reports
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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· assure revenue from the sale of surplus water and storage under Warren Act contracts is
applied to project repayment and operation and maintenance costs instead of going to the
Reclamation Fund;
. allow for the storage and transportation of non-project M&I water in excess capacity, where
sponsors agree that this use will not be detrimental to the primary project purposes;
· allow project beneficiaries reasonable participation in the Warren Act contracting process; and,
· make the acreage limitations in the Warren Act consistent with those in the Reclamation
Reform Act.

The "Family Farm Alliance" and the Bureau of Reclamation have proposed specific changes to the
Warren Act, as have the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Southeastern Colorado Water
Conservancy District, Colorado Springs, and the Pueblo Board of Water Works. This issue was discussed
at the Colorado Water Congress Summer Convention and Southeastern, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo are
trying to form a cooperative effort with other water entities. Staff will assist this effort wherever possible.

Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse Land Use Meetings: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) is hosting public scoping meetings to identify alternatives and issues related to habitat
conservation plans for the Preble's mouse. There will also be a presentation about the presence of the
Preble's mouse in each county, its effects on citizens, and how a habitat conservation plan works. The
meetings are scheduled to be held:

· Sept 29. Douglas County: Commissioners' Hearing Room, 100 3rd Street, Castle Rock, 9 a.m. _
II a.m.
· Sept. 30. Jefferson County: Jefferson County Courthouse, 100 Jefferson County Parkway,
Golden, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
· Oct. 5. Elbert County: Elbert County Courthouse, 215 Comanche Street, Kiowa, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.
· Oct. 13 El Paso County: Pikes Peak Community College, 11195 Highway 83, Colorado Springs, 6
p.m. - 8 p.m.
· Oct. 18. Boulder County: Boulder County Courthouse, County Commissioners Hearing Room,
Third Floor, 1325 Pearl Street, Boulder, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Included as alternatives that will be discussed at the public meetings are:

1. Each of the counties in Colorado with Preble's meadow jumping mice would develop a habitat
conservation plan and be issued an incidental take permit. The Service is proposing this alternative.

2. Multiple Individual habitat conservation plans and incidental take permits for individual
landowners.

3. One single statewide habitat conservation plan and incidental take permit.

4. No action alternative. No activities would be allowed that would harass, harm, or kill Preble's
meadow jumping mice. Activities that did not result in "take" of the mouse could continue. Proposed
activities on non-federal land that may affect the mouse would require submitting an individual
project-specific permit to the USFWS.

Written comments may be submitted at the public scoping meeting or can be mailed to U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service, Attn.: PMJM, 755 Parfet Street - Suite 361, Lakewood, CO 80215; phone (303)275-
2370; fax [phone] and postmarked by November 17, 1999.

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