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2 ,~---...., the project being considered. The statute provides direction for cases where the Wildlife Commission version and the CWCB version of the official state position are not in agreement with one another. . In September, 1989, the Stagecoach Reservoir mitigation plan was reviewed by the Wildlife Commission and CWCB. The Commission, Board, and applicant all agreed on one version of the mitigation plan. A copy of the official state position is attached. Items (2) through (5) relate to instream flow issues above and below Stagecoach Reservoir. Specifically, items (2) and (3) are the reasons why the CWCB has requested flow recommendations from the Division of Wildlife. These items state that the UYWCD will not oppose an instream flow water right filing by the CWCB on the Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir and that the District will donate sufficient water or water rights to meet the flow requirement of 20 cfs August 1 through November 30. Data Collection, Analysis, and Flow Recommendations Since the completion of the Stagecoach Reservoir project on the Yampa River, the UYWCD and the Division of Wildlife have monitored the fish population in the Yampa River downstream of the reservoir. Reports of these sampling efforts have been generated by the District's consultants and the Division; these reports were provided to the CWCB and will become part of the record to support the instream flow determinations. The aquatic sampling results show that the Yampa River has developed into an outstanding fishery resource. The most recent sampling effort was completed this past fall and shows 900 pounds per acre of rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. The Division of Wildlife manages the Yampa River downstream of Stagecoach Dam as a quality fishery; the Colorado Wildlife Commission has adopted a special fishing regulation on the Yampa (catch and release, flies and lures only) to further this . management strategy. It is therefore the opinion of the Division that an outstanding natural environment exists in this section of the Yampa River. R2CROSS data has been collected at several sites on the Yampa River during 1991, 1998, and 2000. In 1991, CDOW and CWCB personnel collected R2CROSS information at three sites between Stagecoach Dam and Lake Catamount. In 1998, R2CROSS data was collected at five locations by the CDOW. In 2000, CDOW and CWCB collected R2CROSS data at six sites. So in total, there are 14 R2CROSS sites on the Yampa River between Stagecoach Dam and Lake Catamount. The only tributaries that contribute flow to this section of the Yampa River are Morrison Creek, Service Creek and Green Creek; these tributaries are all fairly minor and do not contribute significant flow to the Yampa outside of the snow melt runoff period. The attached letter (which transmits the data and flow recommendations to the CWCB staff) has been sent to the CWCB staff for their review and analysis of water availability issues. The table that is attached to this letter summarizes the data, the modeling accuracy ranges, and the flows that meet the R2CROSS hydraulic criteria. In the process of finalizing these flow recommendations, the CDOW also reviewed the Stagecoach Project Instream Flow Physical Habitat Study completion report by W. J. Miller and Associates. In this report, Miller recommends flows ranging from 40 cfs to 75 cfs for the months of June through March; for April and May Miller recommended flows between 40 cfs and 125 cfs. Miller's recommendations are based upon three study sites on the Yampa River utilizing the IFIM/PHABSIM methodology. The fish species that were used in the habitat simulations were brown trout and rainbow trout. The R2CROSS flow . recommendations are, as illustrated by the summary table and flow recommendations, very consistent with the work performed by Miller.