The South Platte Enhancement Board’s (SPEB) primary mission is to implement the South Platte Protection Plan (SPPP), which is focused on maintaining and enhancing the Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs) in identified stream segments along the main-stem of the South Platte River from Eleven Mile Canyon to its confluence with the North Fork and the North Fork from Insmont to its confluence with the main-stem.  Below is a summary of the major actions taken by SPEB to date to implement the SPPP:

Per the bylaws, form the South Platte Enhancement Board and hold regular meetings (SPPP, D-7):

  •  Monthly meetings have been held since October, 2004 and minutes kept.
  • SPEB has filled the 17 designated member positions outlined in the bylaws using 36 different individuals with expertise in their designated areas.

Acquire funds for the endowment fund and maintain and grow the fund making prudent investments (SPPP, A-1):

  •  A substantive endowment fund was successfully collected by 2007 from voluntary contributions from stakeholders in the area (primarily water providers).
  • A fund manager has been chosen and the fund successfully invested to generate funds for SPEB’s grant program and qualified operational expenses.

Establish and implement a grant program for activities that maintain and/or enhance ORVs at the stream segments (SPPP, Attachment D):

  •  The grant program was created and the first grants given in 2007.  Grants have been given each subsequent year with the primary criteria for grants that they maintain and/or enhance the ORVs in the stream segments.
  • 47 grants have been awarded since 2007 totaling $866,253.  These grants have leveraged more than $6,000,000 in additional funds.

Implementation of the Stream Flow Management Plan (SPPP, Attachment B):

  • The plan has been implemented daily since 2006 by Denver Water, Aurora Water and the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife.  These agencies’ operations have been modified by the plan to benefit the ORVs. The results of the plan are discussed in the plan’s annual meeting where multiple benefits from the plan to the fishery and recreation are documented.

Watershed management by a water quality focused group active within the stream segments (SPPP, Attachment E):

  •  The Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) was created as part of SPPP implementation and continues as an exemplary water quality focused organization with major accomplishments benefiting the ORVs.

Denver Water Planning Task Force implementation (SPPP, Attachment F):

  •  The Task Force was created in 2006, meets annually to discuss regional water development issues, and tracks whether the yield expected from the Two Forks project is being developed by alternative regional projects.

Elevenmile and Cheesman Canyons protection (SPPP, Attachment F):

  • Since finalization of the SPPP and issuance of the Record of Decision by the USFS in June, 2004, no water provider or other entity has filed a permit application for a water development project in either of these canyons, as required by this provision.  There are no known plans for any water development projects in either of these canyons.

Withdrawal of the Two Forks water right applications (SPPP, Attachment F):

  • Both water rights applications for storage in a potential Two Forks reservoir have been withdrawn, as required by this provision.  The two entities who had previously filed the applications were Denver Water and the Metropolitan Denver Water Authority.

Imposition by Denver Water of a 20 year moratorium on the development of the Two Forks Right-of-Way (SPPP, Attachment F):

  •  Denver Water has imposed the required moratorium upon itself starting in June 2004.  The moratorium is in effect until June 2024.

Recreation management planning (SPPP, Attachment C):

  • The major land managers in the area of interest are the US Forest Service, Denver Water, the State of Colorado and private property owners.  Representatives of these entities are regularly invited and in attendance at SPEB meeting to provide ongoing information related to recreational issues.  Discussions are regularly held on recreational management planning issues and the grant program gives priority to addressing recreational needs.

Monitoring the status of the ORVs  (SPPP, p. G-22):

  •  This process is ongoing and is implemented by public outreach, such as development of this website, and from actions to actively seek out the status of the ORVs from presentations of experts, attendance at relevant educational events and similar activities.