BOARD0116

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2001
• Description: ISF Section - Instream Flow Appropriations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

REPLACEMENT

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, ... The Division of Wildlife's biologically based flow recommendations for the Yampa River are as follows:

Stagecoach Dam outlet to the Lake Catamount high water line
Winter Low Flow Season: 47.5 cfs
Summer High Flow Season: 72.5 cfs

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These flow recommendations are based exclusively on the R2CROSS data collected in 1991, 1998, and
2000. As stated above, we believe that the R2CROSS flows are substantially supported Miller's physical
habitat modeling prior to the construction of the reservoir. To provide adequate protection to the Yampa
River's fishery, the Division recommends that the low flow season be September through March and the
high flow season should be April through August.

Preliminary W ater Availability Issues

After the CWCB staff receives the biologically based flow recommendations from the recommending
agency, they address the issue of physical water availability. In this case, CWCB staff have been
conducting a water availability analysis to determine if the biologically based flow recommendations for
the Yampa River are physically available for the CWCB's appropriation. CWCB, DOW, and UYWCD
representatives have had several meetings to discuss the flow recommendations in light of hydrologic data,
conditions in the Stagecoach Reservoir Final Environmental Impact Statement, the Environmental
Commitment Plan (prepared by the Bureau of Reclamation), and the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission license for the hydropower facility at the dam. At the time of this writing, these discussions .
are still on-going and final flow recommendations for CWCB consideration at their January 24-25, 2001
meeting are still being fmalized. The Wildlife Commission will be brought up-to-date regarding the water
availability investigations contemporaneous with their consideration of this agenda item.

Staff Recommendation

The staff recommends that the Wildlife Commission approve the following recommendations to the
CWCB:

1. That a natural environment exists in the Yampa River from Stagecoach Dam to Lake Catamount. This
natural environment is unique in terms of fish biomass, numbers of fish per mile, and a high degree
of public access.
2. That the biologically based flow recommendations of 47.5 cfs (September - March) and 72.5 cfs
(April - August) are supported by the data, are developed using standard instreamflow quantification
methods, and are needed to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree.

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