Watershed Update

The Coalition for the Upper South Platte works to protect the water quality and ecological health of the Upper South Platte through the cooperative efforts of stakeholders, with emphasis on community values and economic sustainability. Mission

CUSP formed in 1998 through a MOU signed by Park, Teller, Douglas and Jefferson Counties; Denver and Aurora Water; USPCD and CCWCD; State Trust Land Board; Teller- Park, Jefferson, and Douglas Conservation Districts. Establishment

Board includes original signatories and other stakeholders, representing business, recreation, environmental organizations, and interested individuals. Currently 15 members on the board, could go to Board of Directors

CUSP’s office is in Lake George. We currently employ 18 individuals; ~14 FTEs. Our 2012 budget is $2.2 million. Current Status

Financials for 2011 CategoryAmountBudget Utilities G&D $33,000 Biz Grants/Donations $268,670$10,000 Local Gov G&D $177,200$100,000 Individual Contributions $20,518$20,000 Federal G&D $1,040,872$800,000 State Grants/Donations $362,123$100,000 Other Grants $28,000$25,000 Program Revenue $97,822$50,000 Special Events $12,556$8,000 Interest $216$0$0 Misc $934$2,000 Total$2,041,911$1,148,000 Fed State Biz Local Prog Rev

To Date Expense for 2011 CategoryAmountBudget Contractors $953,456.00$(450,000.00) Cost-Share $6, Salaries & Related $599,725.00$(480,000.00) Accounting & Bank Exps $7, Other Prof Fees $1, Supplies $32,648.00$(85,000.00) Telecoms $6, Office-Misc $19, Project Event Exp $4, Equip Ops/Travel $16,546.00$(5,000.00) Occupancy $11,090.00$(17,000.00) Interest Exp $7, Prof Dev $4, Insurance except WC and UEI $7, Membership $1, Advertising $5, Miscellaneous $3,026.00$(36,000.00) Total$1,689,581.00$ (1,073, ) Net * Includes temp restricted grant revenues $365,656.00$75, Contractors Salaries

To Date Grants and Inkind for 2011 CategoryAmount Donated Services- professional 43,786 Donated Services- volunteer 151,478 Inkind 26,889 Total222,153 INKIND DONATIONS Expense by Functional Area 2011 Actual2011 Budget Percent by Area: Gen Admin 5.40%10.00% Percent by Area: Fund Raising 0.40%5.00% Percent by Area: Program 94.20%85.00% EXPENSE CATEGORIES

Happy Meadows

The Happy Meadows/Sportsman’s river restoration project is a cross- boundary project to reduce sediment, improve fisheries, and create new wetlands on ~4 miles of the South Platte near Lake George. 60,000 people per year visit Happy Meadows for fishing, tubing, and hiking.

Approximately 50% completed in Remainder will be done in 2012

TRAIL CREEK & HORSE CREEK

Since the Hayman and Schoonover fires in 2002, the Horse Creek drainage has been a mess! With the assistance of the National Forest Foundation, Vail Resorts, and others, the Pike and CUSP are working to address the situation...

Fire Stats

We hired Dave Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology to develop a watershed- wide assessment, which prioritized Trail Creek as the first subwatershed for work. We started implementation in 2011, and expect to do over $2,000,000 in work in the drainage in see

OTHER PROGRAMS Energy (Conservation and Alternative) Environmental Education Forest Health (CWPPs, Fuels and Restoration Projects) Oil and Gas Development Monitoring Mine Reclamation Trails Weeds

Contact Carol Ekarius, Executive Director Box 726, Lake George, CO