Joint Committee Committee on Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources (03/09/2005)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES

Date:	03/09/2005	ATTENDANCE

Time:	07:36 AM to 08:43 AM	Brophy
		Entz
Place:	HCR 0112	Gallegos
		Groff
This Meeting was called to order by		Grossman
	Senator Isgar	Harvey
		Hillman
This Report was prepared by		Hodge
	Timothy Taylor	Hoppe
		McFadyen
		McKinley
		Penry
		Rose
		Solano
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
U.S. Forest Service briefing		Briefing only

07:37 AM -- U.S. Forest Service Briefing

Rick Cables, Regional Forester for the Rocky Mountain Region, U.S. Forest Service (USFS), introduced himself and the other forest supervisors present. Three handouts were distributed to the committee - the USFS Rocky Mountain Region 2004 Year-End Report (Attachment A), a summary of The Front Range Fuels Treatment Partnership (Attachment B), and a contact list for the various National Forest and Ranger districts in Colorado (Attachment C). Mr. Cables described the four biggest threats to national forests: 1) invasive species; 2) loss of open space; 3) unmanaged recreation, particularly from off-highway vehicles; and 4) fire and fuels, particularly in the wildland-urban interface. He then referred to attachments A and B, and provided details on each. Mr. Cables also referred to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the USFS Rocky Mountain Region and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) on water issues that will guide the granting of ditch easements by the USFS and other water policies.

07:55 AM

Senator Isgar asked if any bypass flows are being required as a condition of granting a ditch bill easement. Mr. Cables responded that of the easements approved so far, no bypass flows have been required, but that the issue may still be considered for pending easements.

07:59 AM

Mr. Cables responded to various questions from the committee. He first explained USFS coordination with counties on weed/invasive species management, noting that there is a lot of integration that occurs between USFS and counties on such management issues. He then spoke about an increased budget and harvest of timber in national forests in Colorado over the last several years. Next, he described USFS coordination with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) on elk populations in the state, noting that, though the two agencies have worked together on this issue in the past, there is no specific coordinated effort at this time. He said that DOW determines such things as the number of elk hunting licenses issued, which can effect elk populations. Mr. Cables then referred to the proposed development at Wolf Creek Ski Area, and explained that because the land being proposed for development is private, the USFS is unable to take a position on the issue. However, USFS is required under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) to provide reasonable access through national forests to privately owned lands, which has been the main focus of USFS in this matter. Mr. Cables also commented on the importance of coordination between the ski area and the developer on this issue.

08:08 AM

In response to a question from the committee, Jim Bedwell, forester with the Arapahoe and Roosevelt National Forests and the Pawnee National Grassland, said that salvage timber sales have occurred in the Gramby area, and that there are concerted efforts by the USFS to control an invasive species of beetles in the area.

08:15 AM

The meeting recessed due to a fire alarm.

08:38 AM

The joint meeting resumed. Representative Curry urged the USFS to expedite the granting of ditch easements. Committee discussion followed about the need for a task force to address the issue of roadless areas in national forests in the state.

08:43 AM

The joint meeting was adjourned.