SWSI Environment and Recreation Needs and Priorities TRT Draft

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4. Potential Approaches to Defining Environmental and Recreational Flow Enhancements Since its implementation in 1973, CWCB's Instream Flow Program has been successful filing water rights to protect the "minimum stream flows or natural lake levels or volumes necessary to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree." The recent addition by the State Legislature that granted the CWCB authority to secure instream flows that "preserve or improve the natural environment" provides an opportunity to further protect flows in Colorado's rivers and streams. A description of the CWCB instream flow program is attached at the end of this white paper in a paper titled "Colorado's Instream Flow Program: How it Works and Why It's Good for Colorado." In addition, through the SWSI process, programs that go beyond CWCB's minimum flow requirements could be implemented where legally, technically, politically, and economically feasible. Recreational and environmental water needs are generally in-channel flow-based and non-consumptive. These uses have not traditionally been a major part of water planning. Today, much of the work done to address these flow-based needs is tied to agricultural or M&I projects, and much of it is done solely for mitigation of those project impacts. Roundtable and public participants in SWSI expressed significant interest in enhancing flows for recreational and environmental needs beyond legally mandated mitigation levels. Potential solutions were identified, such as RICDs, re-operation of existing facilities for flow enhancement, or dedicated or multi-use projects. For example, Elkhead Reservoir enlargement in the Yampa Basin will provide for water supply needs as well as a storage pool for releases for endangered species. Wolcott Reservoir in the Colorado Basin, if constructed, is intended to address endangered species needs through the 15-mile reach in the lower part of the Colorado River in Colorado in addition to fulfilling water supply needs. This is another example of a project that can serve multiple needs. While flow enhancement for environmental and recreational uses was identified by many SWSI participants as being important, few Identified Projects and Processes, aside from river compact deliveries and the CWCB's instream flow program, directly addressing flow enhancements beyond statutory legal requirements. In support of future options with multi-benefit approaches, several groups provided input to SWSI as to how the state might consider developing a framework for setting goals for these flows. Environmental Defense, Trout Unlimited, and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) provided feedback and input on the subject, and suggested that this framework should include parameters such as seasonal variability, which could include occasional flood pulses, high flow periods, and steady base flows, as many aquatic ecosystems benefit from these flow conditions. This section provides a synopsis of the input received from these groups as a possible starting point for defining environmental and recreational flow goals. Further discussion at the CWCB Board and through the Basin Roundtables or similar groups will be needed to effectively assess whether and how to proceed with incorporating some of these methods for use in Colorado. More specific environmental and recreational options or concepts that could be pursued, as brought forth through the Basin Roundtable process and public input, but that are not included on the list of Identified Projects and Processes, are provided in Section 10. ~5\^ISI S.lal~.....ide WeIer Supply Initiclive DRAFT CDIVI C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ROWANNC\DESKTOP\SWSI\RICKREDREC_ENV WHITE PAPER_1 Q-4-QS.DOC 7