08

• Board Meeting Date: 7/11/2007
• Description: WSP Section - Role of Elkhead Enlargement in Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
w,"'w .cwc b.sta te.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Harris D. Sherman

Executive Director

FROM:

Randy Seaholm, Chief, Water Supply Protection Section
Mike Serlet, Chief, Water Supply Planning and Finance Section
Linda Bassi, Stream and Lake Protection Section

Dan McAuliffe
CWCB Acting
Director

DATE: July 3,2007

SUBJECT: Agenda Item #8, July 11-12, 2007 Board Meeting-
Role of Elkhead Enlargement in Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery
P rog ram

I ntrod uction

This is an informational item. The purpose of this agenda item is to provide the CWCB background
information in preparation for the Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement dedication ceremony the evening of
July 11th. The CWCB has agreed to the permanent acquisition of 5,000 AF of water and storage space
in the Enlargement on behalf of the Upper Colorado Recovery Implementation Program (UCRIP) and to
use and protect such water to assist in the maintenance of a baseflow of 93 cfs through critical habitat for
the endangered Colorado River fishes on the Yampa River downstream of Craig. The CWCB will also
protect up to an additional 2,000 AF of annual short-term lease water acquired by the UCRIP from the
Enlargement. Working with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the acquisition of this water
by the UCRIP and the CWCB will complete a major work element of the Recovery Implementation
Program's Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP). It is also a significant contribution in maintaining "sufficient
progress" by the UCRIP and its ability to serve as the "Reasonable and Prudent Alternative" (RPA) for
water developments required to go through ESA Section 7 Consultations, while simultaneously working
to recover the endangered fish.

BackQround

The UCRIP has completed the "Management Plan for Endangered Fishes in the Yampa River Basin"
(Yampa Plan). The purpose of the Yampa Plan is to promote the recovery of four listed endangered fish
species as water is depleted from the river to serve projected human needs in the Yampa River Basin
through the year 2045. Management actions incorporated into the plan are designed to offset the
depletive impacts on Yampa River baseflows, minimize impacts to peak flows and reduce the impacts
due to competitive and predatory non-native fish. Pursuant to the UCRIP documents, the CWCB is to
hold and protect the water and water rights acquired for UCRIP purposes.

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Plam1:ing