BOARD04W

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2003
• Description: CF Section - Finance Committee Meeting
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Water Project Construction Program - Project Data

Applicant: Colorado Water Conservation Board
Project Name: Natural Lake Level Data Project Type: Natural Lake Level
Collection and Water Rights Filings Appropriations
County: Statewide Drainage Basin: Water Source: N/A
Statewide Drainage Basins
Total Study Cost: $320,000 Funding Sources: CWCB
CWCB Investment: Interest Rate: N/ A Term: N/A
$320,000

Funding is requested for the collection and compilation of data and the preparation of natural
lake level recommendations for the approximate 1800 remaining unprotected natural lakes in
Colorado.

To date, the Colorado Water Conservation Board has appropriated 476 natural lake level water
rights. Aside from Hanging Lake (1996) and Jewell Mountain Lake (2002), the majority of
natural lake level water right filings have occurred prior to 1981. From 1981 to the present,
much of staffs' efforts have been directed towards the appropriation of instream flow water
rights on hundreds of streams and rivers throughout Colorado. Despite staffs' resource
limitations and attention to the appropriation, acquisition and protection of streams and rivers,
much of the data necessary for the appropriation of natural lake level water rights is readily
available. Utilizing the CWCB's Instream Flow Decision Support System (ISFDSS),
Geographical Information System and a database produced by the Colorado Division of Wildlife,
staffhas determined that over 1800 unprotected natural lakes exist in Colorado.

With additional funding, it would be possible for staff to continue its annual Instream Flow (ISF)
appropriations in addition to natural lake level appropriations. This application proposes hiring a
contractor to prepare natural lake level filing recommendations as well as compiling and
submitting the necessary supporting documentation for each lake level recommendation. Most
of the supporting fieldwork and documentation is available through the Colorado Division of
Wildlife or CWCB's Instream Flow Decision Support System and Geographical Information
System. Due to the availability of data, filings of natural lake level appropriations can be made
in a cost-effective manner. Staff has estimated that by using this approach, a contractor could
compile the necessary supporting documentation and prepare recommendations for the
remaining unprotected lakes for approximately $320,000. If funded, it would be feasible to
appropriate natural lake level water rights on the remaining 1800 natural lake levels over a span
of approximately seven years at a rate of 250 appropriations per year.

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