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<br />MEMORANOUM <br /> <br />TO: <br /> <br />Gene Jencsok <br /> <br />FROM: <br /> <br />Robert Wigington and Jim Martin <br /> <br />DATED: <br /> <br />October 30, 1995 <br /> <br />SUBJEcr: Criteria for Modification of Paragraph 4 instream flow rights for <br />endangered fish species <br /> <br />~UBSTANTIVE CIUTEIUA <br /> <br />We helieve thallwo bfllad criteria should guide the excn:isc of the Doard's discretion in <br />determining whether a paragraph 4 water right should be mUllilled. In l:valuating both <br />,;rileria, the Board should request and use the best technical and !;Cielltili... infurmatiun that <br />is available atlhar rime. <br /> <br />. Firsl, the Buanl should consider whether, and tu what eiltent a failure 10 modify a <br />paragrapll 4 right Wl.luId matl:riaIly impede the sl<lte of Colorado's ability 10 develop <br />the water to which the slale is cnlitlc:d under the L:1w ur the River. J\s part uf this <br />analysis, the Board shuuld consider, among other things, the swtus (If water resuurce <br />--- ~- -dl:velopmenlthruught1ul the Colorado River basin within lhe state of Colorado, the <br />status ur water resource dcvelopml:nl within individual basins and suh.ha.suts. amI the <br />Stale Engineer's views cuncerning the amount uf water available for develllpment <br />within the terms of the Law uf Ihe River and the imm inencc of the nCl:d for <br />administration pursuant 10 the Upper Basin Compact and any regulations the State <br />Engineer may havc adopted to adminisll:r a call under that U:lmpact. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Second, the Board should ct)ositler how modification of a paragraph 4 water right will <br />affect consetvatilln and recovery of fish species that have heen lis led as threatened lIr <br />endangered under the Endangered Spedcs Acl. As parI of thi~ analysis, the B,)ard <br />should consider, amllng other things, the basin. suh-basin and reach thal would be <br />affected; Ihe seaS<.ln during which the modifi\:llliun's depletions wuuld occur, amI the <br />depletions' effect un liming, shape, duralion, and magnilude of nllWS within critical <br />habita~ h,lw those depletions will affccl hOlh the 13(lurd's instream !low right and lhe <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service '.s insln;am tlow recommendations fur the aiTecled <br />reach, the species and life IDslOry of the endangered fish thill would be affected by a <br />modificalion. the population status of those species, and the errect of lhe modification <br />