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Ground Water Commission Meeting Minutes Page 14 <br /> November 15, 2024 <br /> rules will be available to the Commission as part of a consultation process. <br /> Ms. Deb Daniel, reporting for the Republican River Water Conservation District, <br /> thanked Mr. Ullmann for his earlier state-wide update. <br /> Ms. Daniel reported that over 17,000 acres have been retired in the South Fork Focus <br /> Zone, above the 10,000 acres required by the compact for 2024. A total of 25,000 <br /> acres is required to be retired by 2029, and Ms. Daniel is confident that this goal will <br /> be reached. Producers inside the focus zone have solicited interest in conservation <br /> programs, and Ms. Daniel will continue working with producers to match them with <br /> programs. <br /> Ms. Daniel reported that USDA has agreed to amending agronomic practice <br /> requirements related to the Dry Land Farmable Crop Improvement Act to make it <br /> more desirable for users. However, more work is needed to resolve issues related to <br /> payment schedules offered by FSA throughout the rest of the basin. <br /> Ms. Daniel mentioned that the District is working on applications for funding requests <br /> related to the Bonny Dam project. A grant request for $330,000 has been made for <br /> the project. <br /> Ms. Daniel reported that a $6M grant has been requested from CWCB for the <br /> retirement of irrigated acres in the South Fork Focus Zone to increase the payment <br /> amounts back to the level that was offered during the time ARPA funds were <br /> available. Additional funding will help increase interest in the retirement of irrigated <br /> acreage. <br /> Ms. Daniel reported that the District is reviewing current water use fees, which has <br /> never been done before. The assessment is nearing completion. <br /> Ms. Daniel reported that the District is holding its upcoming quarterly meeting next <br /> Tuesday. Mr. Ullmann and Mr. Pearson will be in attendance. <br /> Ms. Carolyn Talbert, reporting for the East Cheyenne GWMD, reported that there has <br /> been significant rainfall and snow has been seen in the area recently. The District has <br /> also been working on end of year reporting. <br /> Chairman Arnusch called for agenda item no. 10, old business. <br /> 1) Discuss rulemaking to modify the Designated Basin Rules to allow correction of <br /> clerical errors in Final Permits and Findings and Orders of the Commission. <br /> Ms. McKenzie Herman with the State Attorney General's Office reported that a <br /> draft set of rules is not yet ready for review. Ms. Herman mentioned that a <br /> number of questions have arisen during the drafting of the rule change that Ms. <br />