BOARD02292

• Board Meeting Date: 3/29/1999
• Description: Directors' Reports
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

STATE OF COLOAADO

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Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street. Room 718
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone' 13031 866.3311
TDD,13031866.3543
Fa" 13031 866.2115

DEPARTMENT Of
NATURAL
RESOURCES

MEMORANDUM

BiUOwens
Governor

TO:

Creg E. Walcher
Executive Director

FROM:

Dan McAuliffe

DATE:

March 24, 1999

RE:

EDO Update

The following report contains information about some of the recent activities the Department has been
involved in:

WALCHER URGES PASSAGE OF FEDERAL WILDLIFE AND PARKS FUNDING BILL: On
Mar. 8 DNR Executive Director Greg Walcher wrote to Colorado's Congressional delegation supporting
efforts to pass federal legislation that increases the amount of federal oil and gas royalties used for park,
open space and wildlife purposes.

Walcher said he wants to see Land and Water Conservation Fund grants to states reinstated using the
funds. Between 1966 and 1995 grants to Colorado funded 1,044 local and state parks, open space and
outdoor recreation projects totaling $48.2 million. Congress began reducing grants to states from this
fund in the 1980's and eventually has eliminated state grants entirely.

Walcher also said he supports the idea of creating a new source of funding for state wildlife programs.

WALCHER SUBMITS ARKANSAS RIVER FLOW REGIME REQUEST TO RECLMATION:
On Mar.]9 DNR Executive Director Greg Walcher sent a letter to the Acting Area manger of the Bureau
of Reclamation's Eastern Colorado Area Office. The letter contained the DNR's 1999 to 2000 flow
recommendations for the Upper Arkansas River. The recommendations are intended to encourage the
Bureau to adopt a water flow regime that helps maintain the brown trout fishery and meet the public's
demand for boating recreation within the Arkansas Headwaters Recreational Area. The Arkansas
Headwaters Recreation area has become a model of joint state/federal management in Colorado.

Colorado Geological Survey (CGS)

COLORADO MINERALS ACTIVITY: The CGS publishes an annual report about the production of
minerals and mineral fuels. The CGS is in the process of completing the 1998 report. The report is
expected to show that there has been a 15 percent increase in the value of non-fuel minerals produced in
Colorado. The increase is primarily attributable to an increase in the production of sand, gravel and
aggregates. The report will also highlight the decrease in the value of oil produced ";1d the lesser

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Board of Land Commissioners. Division of Minerals & Geology/Geological Survey
Oil & Gas (onservJtion Commission. Colorado State Parks. Soil ConservJtion Board
Water Conservation Board. Division of Water Resources. Division of Wildlife