BOARD02617

• Board Meeting Date: 3/24/2003
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Corning from a state that just experienced its worst drought on record, I recognize the great
demands being placed on our water resources. Efficient management of water is necessary for
the West to be able to meet its projected future growth.

I look forward to working with my friend, Sen. Bingaman and my colleagues to make sure that .
we have a bill we all can feel comfortable with, especially the states.

Thank you.

Comment Period Ends on Proposal to List Mountain Plover: The extended comment period
regarding the proposal to list the mountain plover as a threatened species ended on March 21.

In December 2002 the USFWS reopenec1 the comment period to include new information on its 1999
proposal to list the mountain plover. The Service also proposed a special rule under section 4(d) of the
ESA that is designed to improve understanding of the impact of some agricultural practices on
mountain plover populations. The special rule will allow ongoing agricultural practices to continue
until Dec. 31, 2004.

The mountain plover was originally named the Rocky Mountain plover because the first specimens
were taken within sight of those mountains. Information on the mountain plover can be found by
searching htto://mountain-orairie.fws.gov/mtnplover and www.USgs.gov.

Norton Announces Habitat Conservation Grants: On Feb. 25 Interior Secretary Norton announced
$34.8 million in grants are available to states under a new program to assist landowners to conserve
and restore the habitat of endangered species and other at-risk plants and animals. State fish and
wildlife agencies, landowners or non-profit groups must put up at least 25 percent of the cost of
projects.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife plans to use its $180,000 grant to focus on Front Range habitat for
the Preble's meadow jumping mouse, for Eastern short-grass prairie habitat for the black-tailed prairie .
dog and several bird species, and on Gunnison Basin habitat for the Gunnison sage grouse. Colorado
will also establish management agreements and seek conservation easements with private landowners
to protect and restore these habitats. The total amount of money that will be available in Colorado is
$1.74 million. More information on the program is available at the USFWS's Grants-at- a-Glance web
site www.grants.fws.gov.

DOl Draft Strategic Plan: The Department of the Interior has released its Draft Strategic Plan for the
next five years. This strategic plan differs from previous plans in the manner in which input was sought
and used and because it replaces the loosely coordinated nine bureau plans. The Draft Strategic Plan as
well as the Federal Register notice are posted on the Interior's website at www.c1oi.gov under the "Hot
Topics" link.

Secretary Norton Announces State LWCF Grants: On Jan. 31 Interior Secretary Norton announced
the distribution of $160 million in grants to states. The funds represent the largest distribution to states
in more than 20 years. The grants will be apportioned largely on population. Colorado is eligible for
about $2.7 million.

The National Park Service manages the fund, evaluatesiand approves grants and oversees project
compliance and completion. During the past two decades, funding for state grants from the Land and
Water Conservation Fund averaged less than $32 million a year. Congress did not appropriate funds
for state grants from 1996 through 1999.

Forest Pilot Project: On Jan. 15 Interior Secretary Norton announced two memorandums of
understanding to coordinate firefighting efforts and announced five new Healthy Forests pilot projects.
The Colorado Project is called the "White River Power Line Project" and will be performed in Rio .
Blanco County. The project involves mechanical thinning and prescribed burning of pinon, juniper and
sagebrush directly adjacent or near electric transmissioJ;llines.

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