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The original lease, executed in 1996, was intended to provide an interim supply of water for the endangered fish pending identification and development of a permanent water supply in the Yampa basin. The lease included terms to address the rates of release, amount of water available and the costs per acre-foot of delivered water. The original term of the lease was for a period of 4 years. Since 2000, the lease has been extended on a yearly basis upon mutual agreement of the parties. Following the drought of 2002 and the identification of a permanent water supply alternative in the Yampa Management Plan (Elkhead Reservoir enlargement) the parties recognized the need to provide a longer term extension to the original lease. The new lease, which includes adjusted costs and terms to address shortages, will provide water to augment flows in the critical habitat reach through 2008. The Service expects to request releases of water under the renewed lease beginning in early September. New Water Commission Proposed: A water focus group has developed a proposal for a Steamboat Springs Water Commission. The proposal, which has been given to the City Council, calls for a seven- member board with four representatives from the city's service district, two from the Mount Werner Water service district (one of whom is from the Tree Haus sub-district) and one from the Steamboat II service district. The new commission would be a recomrnending body with similar powers to the city's planning and parks and recreation commissions. The board would be appointed by the City Council and be comprised of residents who live within the districts they represent. The commission would look at ways to create greater efficiencies for existing services, review proposals for new services and integrate long-range water and wastewater planning with the city and county community plans. The board also would review water rights applications by the city and special districts, water and wastewater rates, plant investment fees and dispute resolutions between the different districts. The water focus group was created in 2002 after voters turned down the fonnation ofajoint water authority. The original intent was for members of the Mount Werner Water Board and residents of the city service district to continue looking at ways to consolidate the city and district's water and sewer systems. The council was scheduled to talk about the proposed water commission at its Sept. 7 meeting. Change of use of donated water rights: As reported in July, the AG's Office has filed two applications on behalf of the CWCB to change the use of the donated water rights to instream flow use. These rights will be used for maintenance or improvement of instream flows in Hot Spring Creek, Big Horn Gulch and Mineral Creek. The applications were published in the June resume in Water Divisions 6 (Case # 04CW24) and 7 (Case # 04CW40). No statements of opposition have been filed for these cases. . . Agency News New ISF Staff: Linda Bassi has joined us as our newest staff member as of Sept. 1. The Stream and Lake Protection Section would also like to announce the reinstatement of Todd Doherty in August 2004. Todd has work in the ISF Program from 1996 to 2000 and temporarily moved back east to pursue other interests. Todd has assumed Mark Uppendahl's responsibilities of instream flow appropriations. Since his return, he has been working on 2005 Instream Flow water right appropriations and submitted a non-reimbursable application to fund data collection to support . the appropriation of natural lake level water rights. Please help me in welcoming Todd back. . Mark has assumed the duties previously held by Jay Skinner and Jay was promoted to the supervisor of the Division of Wildlife's Water Resources Unit. 18