BOARD01713

• Board Meeting Date: 7/28/2003
• Description: CF Section - Tamarisk Control and Eradication Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

.

.

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
PhQne: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
wv,.'w.cwcb.state.co.us

Memo

Bill Owens
Governor

DATE:

Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

July l8, 2003

TO:

RQd Kuharich
eweB Director

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Steve Miller, Water Supply Protection Section

RE:

Agenda Item 16, July 28-29,2003 Colorado Water Conservation Board Meeting
Tamarisk Control and Eradication Update

Introduction:

In an earlier Director's report staff advised the Board of Gov, Owens' Executive OrderD 002 03,
directing DNR to develop a plan leading to the eradication oftamarisk on public lands within ten
years, Tamarisk is a phreatophyte or "water loving" non-native plant that has invaded riparian areas
throughout the west, and in most areas of Colorado, While EDO has not yet told each division how
it wants them to respond to the mission oftamarisk removal, many have begun to examine
opportunities to participate in the effort, This item is to advise the Board of staff activities to date
and suggest several ways that the CWCB might advance the statewide goal announced by the
Governor.

Tamarisk Coalition:

The Board has provided some initial funding to this informal group, based in Grand Junction to
produce a scooping report which describes the problem in Colorado, identifies various federal, state,
and local agencies with an interest in reducing the impacts of tamarisk, and most importantly
describes the need for future action, The Coalition's report, "Impact of Tamarisk Infestation on the
Water Resources of Colorado" is attached to Board members' copy of this memo, It will also be
available on the Board's web site. The report notes that tamarisk, and a related phreatophyte -
Russian Olive, is found in nearly all basins in Colorado and is gaining additional acreage of
infestation every year. Significant problems as a result of the infestation include excessive
consumption of water, loss of wildlife habitat, increasing soil and water salinity, degraded channel
capacity, and loss of diverse native riparian ecosystems, Additional research needs include: an
accurate inventory of infested acres and the displaced vegetation, costs of removal and riparian
restoration, and assessment ofthe volumes of water lost through tamarisk evapotranspiration, The
Coalition is acting as a clearinghouse to bring together groups with and interest in this problem and

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning