WSP11602 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

" . . Memo to Colorado Water Conservation Board Members From: Peter Evans and Gene Jencsok Date: October 17, \995 SUBJECT: Agenda Item 2, October 20, 1995 Board Meeting Endangered Fish Recovery ISF Water Right - Colorado River (Mainstem) Page 3 modification provisions. The CWCB would enforce this water right as soon as any jtmior water right caused flows within the protected segment to drop below the appropriated levels of flow. The recovery flow water right would protect the variable character of the natural hydrograph for the 15 Mile Reach, including the large peak flows during the spring runoff months, and should be at least one day junior to the baseflow water right. As proposed for the recovery flow water right in the Yampa River, this recovery flow water right should be subject to terms and conditions (to be developed in the course of water court proceedings) that will allow development of a 100,000 acre-foot development allowance (allocated in monthly increments) before the CWCB exercises this water right. The recovery flow water right might specify monthly instream flow levels which reflect the FWS flow recommendations for the 15 Mile Reach of the Colorado River, or protect the flows remaining in the river after the monthly increments of the development allowance are in use. Our recommendation is consistent with the recommendations of the Compact Development Projection Workgroup (described below), whieh recommended a total development allowance of 242,000 acre-feet, in that our recommended development allowance (100,000 acre- feet) could be increased in the future to accommodate additional development needs. We recommend, however, that this modifiable aspect of the recovery flow water right be limited by a CWCB commitment that the development allowance increments can only be increased to a total of242,000 acre-feet (including the initial I 00,000 acre-foot development allowance). This recommended limitation is also consistent with the CWCB's 1994 Statement of Policy and Procedure (rcvicwcd below). BACKGROUND XWS Flow Recommendations. The 15 Mile Reach is viewed by the FWS as critical in recovering Colorado River populations of the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker. Both species are endcmic to the Colorado River and were once widespread and abundant. A small remnant population of razorback suckers persisted in the Grand Valley area until the mid-1980's, but only a few individuals have been observed in recent years. The Colorado squawfish continues to pcrsist, but its distribution and abundance have declined to the point that the prospect for its long-term survival is considered uncertain. The FWS contends that changes in the flow regime have either caused or contributed to most of the suspected problems (e.g., degradation or simplification of habitat, infrequent "flushing of spawning substrates," reduced availability of "nursery" habitat, and increased predation by and competition with non-native fishes). The FWS identified the 15 Mile Reach as one of the highest priority sites for flow protection in 1988, and presented flow recommendations for the swnmer months (July - September) in May 1989 and for the remainder of the year in April 1991. The 1989 '. .... . recommendations for the summer months were aimed at identifying flows which would optimize'