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<br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />The January II, 1994 Board memo is attached and provides background information on the District's "- <br />interest in the study. <br /> <br />Since the January memo the District and USGS hosted a February 10 meeting in Pueblo with <br />nwnerous potentially interested parties. At that meeting it was determined to conduct the transit <br />loss/travel time study in 2 phases, The first phase would use existing data and previous studies to <br />estimate stream flow losses associated witlli nrudad Reservoir releases to various points downstream <br />for 160 miles to the confluence with the Arkansas River. A second pha<;e lL~ing modeling and test <br />releases could be undertaken if existing data was inadequate to provide estimates of suitable precision <br />or if it was important to categorize issues as to the ultimate fate of the "lost" water. <br /> <br />It was apparent from the February 10 meeting that while many parties could be impacted by the use <br />of the study results and wanted to be kept informed of how the study was conducted, only the <br />District and perhaps the State (SEO and CWCB) had any interest in becoming cooperators and <br />providing financial assistance to the study, <br /> <br />Based on the Feb 10 meeting, the USGS developed a Project Proposal for Phase I of the study dated <br />3/14/94, Copy attached hereto. In April the District requested $5,000 from the Board for part of its <br />$13,000 share of FY94 costs. After reviewing existing funding authorities, staff concluded that there <br />was no way to comply with the District's request without first obtaining approval by the General <br />Assembly. The District was encouraged to make a formal request for financial assistance which <br />would be included in the 1995 Construction Fund Bill, and also to begin Phase I of the study using <br />its own resources. If the General Assembly approved use of the Construction Fund for this purpose <br />in FY 95 and 96, the District could receive credit against any required cost sharing with the CWCB <br />for the FY 94 outlays, <br /> <br />Funding Reouest: <br /> <br />The District has indicated that it will ask the Board for a $25,000 grant as the Board's financial <br />contribution to the 3 year study. This grant would equal 49"10 of the non-federal cost of the study, <br />with the District paying another $25.900 from its own resources. The USGS will fund the remaining_ <br />50% of the $101,8QO needed for phase 1.of the study. <br /> <br />Staff Recommendation: <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Board consider the District's grant request and discuss the various <br />rationales for State participation in the transit loss study. A grant to the District may be appropriate <br />based on the Board's interest in developing information to improve basinwide water management and <br />the historical role of the Board in cooperating on USGS water resource investigations, The Board <br />may wish to consider including this request as part of a larger 1995 Construction Fund item that <br />addresses other potential water management studies in the Arkansas Basin. A final decision is not <br />required at this time, but guidance to the District' and staff is needed so that a final request can be <br />acted on at the November meeting, <br />w:\boardmemlsept\ 14aaad <br />