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<br />It was noted that the "CPR" approach may differ for environmental versus recreational flow <br />needs. <br /> <br />This approach could be integrated into the Identified Projects and Processes, Options for <br />Alternatives, or as new stand-alone options, as each moves from concept toward <br />implementation. <br /> <br />Concepts for Estimating Environmental Flow Needs <br /> <br />Environmental and recreational interest groups suggested that in characterizing environmental <br />water needs, a two-step approach could be implemented: <br /> <br />1. Identify and locate critical water-dependent species and natural systems. <br /> <br />2. Assess the environmental demands (or ecological flow needs) of those systems. <br /> <br />Key sources for information for water-dependent species and systems might include: <br /> <br />. CDOW <br />. Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) <br />. Colorado Water Trust <br />. TNC Ecoregional Plans <br />. Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Programs <br /> <br />It was also suggested that a model could be developed to determine environmental or instream <br />needs of these communities by identifying integral components of the flow regime such as: <br /> <br />. Base flows <br />. Normal high flows <br />. Drought and flood conditions <br />. Interannual variability <br /> <br />Approaches to Determining Environmental Flow Needs <br /> <br />TNC proposed the following components to serve as part of an initial method to quantify <br />environmental water demands: <br /> <br />. A coarse statewide characterization <br /> <br />. A select set of pilot projects (two to five) at critical conservation sites <br /> <br />. An evaluation of specific environmental demand after preliminary identification of likely <br />project locations through SWSI <br /> <br />TNC has offered its assistance, along with the Colorado Water Caucus, in data collection and <br />characterization efforts, including gathering a team of experts in riparian and aquatic ecology to <br />work with the CWCB and Basin Roundtable members. Trout Unlimited suggested that portions <br />of the UPCO Study and other similar approaches be implemented to identify priority stream <br />reaches within each basin that are used for recreational purposes. Table 5 provides a summary <br /> <br />~5\^ISI <br /> <br />S.lal~.....ide WeIer Supply Initiclive <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />CDIVI <br /> <br />C:\DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS\ROWANNC\DESKTOP\SWSI\RICKREDREC_ENV WHITE PAPER_1 Q-4-QS.DOC <br /> <br />9 <br />