SWSI Environment and Recreation Needs and Priorities TRT Draft

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. Voluntary re-operation of existing projects to enhance recreational benefits without impacting yield . Establishing new RICDs The acquisition by purchase and transfer of existing water rights may be necessary for many of the options above. Leases and/ or interruptible water supply agreements may also playa role. Water leases provide temporary water rights to users while interruptible water supply agreements refer to agreements whereby water supplies may be interrupted during water short years. Specific environmental and recreational options identified through the Basin Roundtable process are presented by basin in Section 10.3 of the SWSI Report. CDOW has identified several "statewide" approaches that could be implemented to address environmental needs, as indicated in Table 6. This table also shows a conceptual strategy (the "Three-Species Conservation Strategy") that could be applied to Colorado's Western Slope basins. Table 6 CDOW Statewide and Western Slope Water Management Options I . Three- Species Conservation Strategy Water Quality Dynamic flows Retu rn Flow Mitigation Project Western Slope: Three- Species Conservation Strategy ~5\^ISI S.lal~.....ide WeIer Supply Initiclive Five-State Conservation Agreement and Strategy document(s) for long-term conservation and protection of three native fish populations (bluehead sucker, roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker) Continue to work through State's water quality rule-making procedures to improve standards and classifications for streams and water bodies. . Continue/ improve monitoring data collection, standardization, analyses, and posting; . Continue advising watershed assemblies on water quality and wildlife issues. Improve coordination and communication w/ water suppliers so that within operational, institutional, and hydrologic constraints, dynamic releases can be made to simulate natural flow conditions. Recognition of connectivity between irrigated agriculture and late-season baseflow and water temperatures. Ensure that changes to agricultural practices (e.g., sprinklers, or type-conversions) do not significantly impair or reduce these benefits. Five-State Conservation Agreement and Strategy document(s) for long-term conservation and protection of three native fish populations (bluehead sucker, roundtail chub, flannelmouth sucker) in Arizona, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado. High Conservation Agreement between AZ, WY, UT, NM, and CO to be signed in spring 2004. Strategy document draft due Dec. 2004. La Plata and Mancos River roundtail chub brood stocks at Mumma Native Aquatic facility. High Ongoing Division of Wildlife participation in WQCC hearings and other local processes to ensure non- degradation and cooperation on wildlife issues. Medium No substantive discussions have occurred to date. Successful implementation in other western river systems and Canada. Low to Medium No discussions. Inventory of affected areas not compiled and anecdotal to date. High Strategy document draft due Dec. 2004. La Plata and Mancos River roundtail chub broodstocks at Mumma Native Aquatic facility. DRAFT CDIVI C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ROWANNC\DESKTOP\SWSI\RICKREDREC_ENV WHITE PAPER_1 Q-4-QS.DOC 14