PROJ00252

• Contract/PO #: C150028
• Contractor Name: Colorado Division of Wildlife
• Contract Type: Grant
• Water District: 0
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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for those native aquatic species, which are indigenous to the rivers, ponds and lakes of
Colorado, The primary goal is to provide a means for aiding in their recovery and to help
preserve and restore viable populations.

Once this facility is operational, it is expected that the CDOW will use it for research and
propagation in connection with its broader responsibilities to identify declining species,
understand the reasons for their decline, and prioritize conservation measures (including
habitat protection and stocking),

Proiect Authorizations

In September 1993, the Colorado Wildlife Commission (CWe) and the CWCB approved
a joint resolution regarding the development and maintenance of a Native Aquatic
Species Restoration Facility (NASRF), In November 1996, the CWC and CWCB
approved ajoint funding resolution for the construction and operation of the NASRF,

In January 1997, the CWCB recommended a grant to the CD OW of up to $2.0 million for
the NASRF on the condition that the CDOW submit a detailed proposal concerning the
facility to include both capital and operating costs and provide the CWCB the
opportunity to review all appraisals of property considered for facility use.

In the 1997 Colorado Session Laws, Chapter 168, Section 11(1), the General Assembly
authorized the CWCB to make a grant of not more than $2.0 million from the Fish and
Wildlife Resources Account of the CWCB Construction Fund for the development and
initial operation of the facility,

CDOW funding of $2,350,000 was authorized by the General Assembly from the Game
Cash fund in 1997 and 1998.

Memorandum ofUnderstandinl!

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the CDOW and the CWCB for
development and operation of the facility was approved by the CWCB on March 10,
1998 with the condition that all feasibility investigations are to be completed to the
satisfaction of the Director of the CWCB prior to execution of the MOU. This report has
been prepared in response to that condition of approval, The provisions of the MOU are
discussed in more detail in Section 5 of this report.

Comprehensive Plan

The MOU provides that the CDOW will prepare a Comprehensive Plan, which will
describe the process by which the CDOW will identify declining species and develop
priorities for habitat improvement and use of the facility within one year of the date of the
MOU. Some of the issues which the Comprehensive Plan will address include:

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