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3 <br />is a request for an addendum for an additional 30,000 acres, all within four (4) miles <br />of the stream system. <br /> <br />Third, we presented our augmentation plan and accounting procedures to the <br />Republican River Compact Administration (RRCA) on March 12, 2008 for ultimate <br />approval of Colorado’s Compact Compliance Pipeline. We have attended several <br />informational and technical meetings since then. Several water users groups, <br />represented by their attorneys, and other entities in the basin have supported us at <br />these meetings and I want them to know that we appreciate their support, especially <br />the Republican River Water Conservation District (RRWCD). We are continuing <br />negotiations with Kansas and Nebraska officials on approval of the augmentation <br />plan. The pipeline is still scheduled for construction starting in January 2009 with <br />scheduled water deliveries for compact compliance by September 2009. This <br />project was made possible in part by a $60.6M loan made by the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board and approval by the General Assembly this session. We hope <br />to gain approval from the RRCA within the next few months. <br /> <br />Fourth, we are looking into proposed operation plans for Bonny Reservoir to achieve <br />compact compliance. On August 14th, I ordered the release of approximately 2,000 <br />acre-feet of water from Bonnie Reservoir that has occurred due to heavy rains since <br />August 4th. That order will apply to all future inflows and accretions. This was done <br />to comply with the compact. We have been working with the Bureau of Reclamation <br />for some time on this issue and have tried to accommodate some of their concerns <br />regarding administration of Bonny Reservoir. We will continue to work closely with <br />the Bureau on this difficult issue. I understand the hardship this imposes on the <br />BOR, Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Division of Wildlife, and the users of <br />the facilities at Bonny State Park and Wildlife Area but compliance is not <br />discretionary and I will continue to take such actions to assure that Colorado will <br />comply with the Compact. <br /> <br />Finally, my office has initiated the process to promulgate rules and regulations <br />governing the diversion, use and control of water resources in the basin. The rules if <br />necessary will assist water administration officials in meeting Colorado’s obligations <br />under the Republican River Compact through curtailment of surface water <br />diversions, ground water pumping, and out-of-priority reservoir storage. At this <br />juncture I continue to receive comments on the rules and will thoughtfully consider <br />what the next steps may be in the context of moving forward with these Compact <br />Rules or holding them in abeyances in perspective of our other efforts that include <br />land retirement and the augmentation plan currently under consideration by the <br />RRCA. <br /> <br />Other actions with the basin include an agreement that was reached between <br />ground water users in the Northern High Plains Designated Ground Water Basin and <br />numerous senior surface water right users on the North Fork of the Republican <br />River. The dispute was set for a three week trial before the Colorado Ground Water <br />Commission’s Hearing Officer, Joseph (Jody) Grantham. On Friday, June 6, Mr. <br />Grantham signed an order vacating the proceedings pending completion of all <br />necessary terms of the settlement. Non-compliance with the terms will result in the <br />hearing being held in January/February of 2009. This case involves the potential de-