BOARD02567

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

The purpose of the workshop would not be to use this meeting to resolve any of the major crosscutting issues
addressed.

The agenda is attached.

New DNR ESA Coordinator: Former State Senator and JBC member Tom Blickensderfer has been
hired to be the DNR's new endangered species coordinator. Tom has been invited to our meeting on Thursday
for an introduction.

2001 ISF New Appropriation Work Plan: Staff is currently in the process of updating the Instream
Flow Work Plan. The updated Work Plan will prioritize identified stream segments and natural lakes for field
data collection efforts by the CWCB staff and other parties. Any party who would like the CWCB to consider a
stream or natural lake for protection in 2002 should contact Board staff prior to January 31, 200 l. Streams and
lakes currently listed on the Instream Flow Work Plan will remain on the list unless the recommending party
requests it to be withdrawn.

CWCB staff is planning on holding a workshop in February to discuss and prioritize all identified stream
reaches and natural lakes. All parties on the ISF Subscription Mailing list will be notified of this planned
workshop. Parties interested in participating in this workshop should contact CWCB staff.

Staff will prioritize the identified stream reaches and natural lakes using the criteria established by the
staff and ratified by the Board at its March 2000, Board Meeting. Staff will take comments regarding the
established criteria or proposed ranking of the instream flow or natural lake level recommendations at this
workshop.

Owens Receives Recommendations for Protecting Colorado's Landscapes: On Dec. 7 Governor Bill
Owens received recommendations today at a news conference on how to best protect Colorado's landscapes.
The Governor's Commission on Open Spaces, Farms and Ranches released a report to the Governor with the
recommendations.

The Governor appointed a l6-member commission in May 2000 to examine Colorado's land preservation
efforts and identify the most efficient and effective means of protecting the state's natural landscapes. The issues
of growth, congestion and open space are among the most contentious in Colorado.

The following is a list of recommendations made in the report by the Commission:
l. Create a revolving conservation loan fund to assist local efforts to preserve open spaces, farms and
ranches;
2. Seek voter approval to let GOCO bond against its revenue stream so it is poised to act quickly on once-
in-a-lifetime land preservation projects that exceed its annual budget;
3. Explore additional funding options for conservation efforts at both the state and local levels;
4. Create incentives for farmers and ranchers who voluntarily sign management agreements to protect
valuable wildlife, soil or water resources on their land;
5. Strengthen the state conservation easement tax credit;
6. End the federal estate tax on farms and ranches;
7. Enhance local preservation efforts through the Office of Smart Growth at the Department of Local
Affairs;
8. Initiate pilot programs for water trading, banking and easements that provide farmers and ranchers with
options to respond to changing market conditions without permanently removing water from the basin;
9. Encourage the Colorado Water Conservation Board to develop a framework for each basin's future
water needs and propose a strategy for the conservation and development of Colorado's water resources;
10. Provide state assistance to farmers and ranchers to seek new markets for agricultural products and value-
added processes;
ll. Measure the impacts of growth on open space.

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