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<br />- 5 - <br /> <br />is in the process of developing its own augmentation plan and may not rely on the District's plan in <br />the future. <br /> <br />Nearly all of the plan members within the Left Hand Creek and James Creek ISF reaches occupy <br />their cabins seasonally. If the Town of Ward's depletions are taken out, the plan members' <br />depletions in the Left Hand Creek and James Creek ISF reaches during the winter months, when the <br />reach is historically stressed, are very low (the average depletion rate is 0.0035 cfs). The historical <br />streamflow records indicate that during the months of November through April, these ISF reaches <br />are most likely to have flows less than the decreed ISF rates. <br /> <br />The District's engineer, Mark McLean, reviewed the historical daily streamflow record for the gage <br />on Left Hand Creek near Boulder, which has a sporadic record with continuous daily data for May <br />1929 - September 1931, April 194 7 - December 1953, October 1955 - September 1957, and <br />October 1976 - September 1980. These gage records indicate that historically, the Left Hand Creek <br />and James Creek ISF water rights have been satisfied from May through August. The average <br />amount of days the Left Hand Creek ISF water right would have been unsatisfied during the 1951- <br />1980 period for the months of October - April was approximately 10 days per year. <br /> <br />During September and October, plan members' average daily depletion rates are 0.035 cfs and 0.016 <br />cfs respectively. The streamflow records show that the Left Hand Creek and James Creek ISF water <br />rights were satisfied every day in September for 11 of the 16 years in which records were kept and <br />were satisfied every day in October for 13 of the 16 years in which records were kept. <br /> <br />Replacement Sources to Left Hand Creek and James Creek <br /> <br />The District utilizes its Left Hand Ditch Company shares to augment depletions by its members in <br />the Left Hand Creek basin. Four sources of Left Hand Ditch Company water are released into the <br />drainage. Two year-round direct flow rights diveli out of South St. Vrain Creek and are discharged <br />into the headwaters of James Creek. This water then flows through the James Creek and the Left <br />Hand Creek below James Creek ISF reaches. Releases from Lake Isabelle are also divelied into <br />James Creek through the Ditch Company's South St. Vrain Creek diversion. Releases from Left <br />Hand Park Reservoir to Left Hand Creek flow through both Left Hand Creek ISF reaches. Releases <br />from Gold Lake to Left Hand Creek flow through the ISF reach below James Creek. <br /> <br />Operationally, the Ditch Company usually opens the gate to Lake Isabelle at the beginning of <br />August, and does not close the gate until the reservoir is emptied, which typically is by September 1. <br />Once Lake Isabelle is empty, the Ditch Company starts releasing water from Left Hand Park <br />Reservoir and continues such releases until winter weather makes access impractical, usually in late <br />September. The Ditch Company provides water to the District from Gold Lake in winter and spring, <br />and also to augment stream flows in August and September. Releases from Gold Lake flow through <br />the J ames Creek ISF reach and Left Hand Creek below J ames Creek. <br /> <br />Terms of Proposed Stipulation and Decree <br /> <br />The CWCB staff expressed concerns to the District about the potential to add new members along <br />Middle St. Vrain Creek and Left Hand Creek to the District's plan in the future, which would result <br />in additional unreplaced out-of-priority depletions. To address those concerns, the District has <br />agreed to restrict future membership on Middle St. Vrain Creek and Left Hand Creek to those new <br />members whose diversions deplete on or above those reaches prior to December 23, 2002, the date <br />of the filing of the application, or to those new members who can contribute new water to the plan <br />that would cover the new out-of-priority diversions in time, place and amount. The District has <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />