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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II MM23 Executive Summary recommendations for the Yampa River which were released in draft form in November of 1989 and in final form in March qf 1990. As a result of discussions initiated. in 1989 by the Director of the Colorado Depamnent of Natural Resources ("DNR"), the Recovery Program is presently pursuing the acquisition of. the Juniper project water rights on the Yampa River. If acquired, a portion of these rights would be changed to instream flow purposes in order to protect habitat for the endangered fish species in the Yampa River basin. Study Objectives The Yampa River Basin Alternatives Feasibility Study is a joint effort of the River District, the Colorado Water Conservation Board ("Board"), and Reclamation. The River District is spearheading the effort by acting as contracting entity, although funding for the study comes from all three agencies. The goal of the study is to identify and to evaluate the feasibility of protecting the future ability of Yampa River basin residents to develop needed water supplies and effects of the proposed transfer of the Juniper rights to instream flow use and to recommend a plan of action that permits the water rights transfer process to move forward. The specific objectives of the study are: 1) To evaluate current and future basin water needs and available supplies. 2) To identify alternative reservoir sites and operating strategies for the upper Yampa River basin which can meet the long term water supply and economic needs of the area, and which are compatible with the recovery of endangered Upper Colorado River Basin fishes. 3) To identify feasible alternative projects, based on water availability, geotechnical consideration, costs, recreational opportunities, water demands, environmental considerations, and instream flow needs, with considerable public and agency input. 4) To identify a recommended project, or projects, and prepare development plans for potential use of the Juniper Project water rights that include municipal, industrial, recreational, and environmental water uses, and instream flow uses of the existing Juniper project water rights for endangered fish species. The geographical scope of the study is the Yampa River basin. However, primary emphasis has been placed on that portion of the basin lying above the Little Snake River confluence. . HYDROLOGY AND WATER RIGHTS OF THE YAMPA RIVER BASIN Hydrology Most of the yield of the 7,660 square mile Yampa River basin is produced by melting snowpacks in the higher elevations at the eastern and southern edge of the basin. Summer precipitation augments this water supply in minimal amounts. Natural flows of the Yampa River are highly seasonal, typically reaching a peak in late spring and declining considerably by late summer to minimum levels in late fall or winter. Approximately 64 percent of the 1.1 million acre-feet (mat) of annual stream discharge of the Yampa River near Maybell occurs in the months of May and June. Water yield also varies spatially throughout the basin, reflecting spatial climatological variation. Annual precipitation ranges from more than 40 inches in the S-2 i1;; ".t;.