BOARD02567

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2001
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

administration and providing benefits for biological species of concern in Colorado, and for participation in an endangered
species program being developed pursuant to the Platte River Cooperative Agreement.

A qualification based selection process was used to hire GEl Consultant Inc. A contract was signed with GEl on January 5,
2001 with a maximum price of$ 137,090.00. A kick-off meeting for the study was held on January 11,2001. The initial
focus will be on the review of existing information and a preliminary evaluation of the legal availability of water. Several
progress meetings will be held with the various stakeholders over the next several months. A draft final report is scheduled
for completion in April-May 200 I.

Construction Fund - Regional Water Planning Studies

Purgatoire River Water Conservancv District - Transit Loss Investigation Studv
Authorization: HB 95-1155 SB 99-173 Grant Amount: $60,000
Water Source: Purgatoire River Project Type: Transit Loss Study
Location: Trinidad Project Manager: Steve Miller

This project is being conducted by the Purgatoire River Water Conservancy District [PRWCD] in conjunction with the
USGS and USBR. In Phase I it was determined that on an annual average basis mainstem losses were offset by gains. In
Phase II the remaining $35,000 ofCWCB funding is paying for a portion of the costs of an analysis of transit losses in the
conveyance systems of the participating members of the PRWCD. This information will enable the PRWCD to better
allocate its water supply, and will also help answer questions about water use and return flows raised by downstream
water users. The CWCB's Phase II funds have not yet been contracted, as the work loads between the PRWCD, USGS,
and USBR are still being refined.

Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancv District - Water and Storage Needs Assessment
Authorization: HB Grant Amount: $25,000
Water Source: Purgatoire River Project Type: Water Supply Study
Location: Pueblo Project Manager: Steve Miller

This project is being conducted by an enterprise created by the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District
[SECWCD] in conjunction with municipal and agricultural water users with its service area. Phases I and II received
$100,000 ofCWCB grants from the severance tax account [see below] which paid for a portion of an analysis of future
water supply and storage needs in the lower Arkansas basin [Buena Vista to Lamar]. Phases I and II resulted in a
quantification of needed storage space and a Preferred Storage Options Plan for meeting these needs. This additional
$25,000 grant from the construction fund is being used to alIow the SECWCD to examine in more detail issues
surrounding agricultural to urban water rights transfers and a District water bank or management account at Pueblo
Reservoir as part of Phase II. Contracts between the District and and CWCB for this additional work are currently being
developed.

Lower Elk River Flood Association - Elk River Streambank Studv
Authorization: HB 98-1189 HB 00-1419 Grant Amount: $30,000 + $15,000
Water Source: Elk River Project Type: Stream Stblzation Study
Location: 8 mi. west of Steamboat Spgs. Project Manager: Larry Lang

CWCB contracted with Icon Engineering, Inc. to perform an engineering investigation for Elk River watershed study and
streambank stabilization project on the lower one mile of the river. The study is now complete and developed the hydrologic
and hydraulic characteristics of the watershed and provided engineering recommendations for the stabilization of the Elk
River streambank upstream of Highway 40. Following the Icon study, some landowners along the river contracted with an
independent consultant and privately funded river restoration work. CWCB staff has no further funding requests or projects
on the lower Elk River at this time.

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