Gunnison May 9 Needs Assessment Letter

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EXHIBIT A DESCRIPTION OF GUNNISON BASIN ROUNDTABLE FY 2008 HB1400 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUESTS Project Scoping and Execution for Task 4: Basinwide - Perform an independent review of the agricultural shortages identified in the Statewide Water Supply Initiative by enllancing spatial resolution, and extending the period of record to include the recent extremely dry period of2002-2004~ Project scoping and execution would begin in July, 2007. Backgroundw' The estimates of agricultural demand in the Gunnison Basin presented in the SWSI report should be reviewed for accuracy and as to the methodology that was used~ It is believed that irrigation. demands and irrigation shortages have been underestimated. The consequences of underestimating these amounts are two-fold: First, the need for additional water storage in the Gunnison Basin would be un.derstated, and second, an understatement of agricultural shortages gives the impression that there may be water available for new appropriations when, in fact, there is not. It is important that the analysis be performed for stream segments where known critical shortages in water supply OCCUf* It is irn.portant that this analysis be performed using historical records related to minimum supply conditions as appropriate (e.g~, during the drought of 2002 ~ 2004). Project Scoping for Task 9: Basinwide - Prepare an estimate of the quantity of water that sh.ould be delivered downstream of the Aspinall V.nit in order for the operation of the Aspinall Unit to become the reasonable and prudent alternative (RP A) for existing and future in-basin depletions~ It is anticipated that this volume of water will be relied upon by the USFWS to issue a non-jeopardy opinion pursuant to Sections 7 and 9 of the ESA for Aspinall Unit operations~ It is also anticipated that this RP A will provide the basis for a Gunnison Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion (PHO) i.n the future~ Prepare an estimate of the needs of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and an estimate of the extent to which endangered fish flows can meet Black Canyon needs. In addition, prepare an estimate of the quantity of water needed to protect existing water uses from calls by senior water rights in the lower basin~ Additionally, the effects of releasing this volume of water should be evaluated as part of this task~ Specifically, it is important to understand how the use of this volume of water may impact in-basin water resource management (including, but not limited to, flat water recreation, Colorado River Co.mpact delivery requirements, and water right call impacts)~ Project scoping would begin in July, 2007. Background: Although it is recognized that there is great uncertainty regarding future operations of the Aspinall Unit (the o.n-going Operations EIS has been stalled due to legal isslles), it is anticipated that operations may ch.ange in response to the needs of endangered 5-9-07 A-I