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Alan MarteUaro, Technical Advisor Comments on: Basin Fact Sheet--Colorado River Basin October 15, 2002 Page: 1 1.3 Surface Water My understanding of the recovery plan is that the PBO allows future development upstream of the 15..mile Reach of up to 120,OOOAF without risk of a section 7 consultation jeopardy opinion. Otherwise, the development of Colorado's Compact Entitlement will largely come from the Yampa and the Gunnison. The pie chart and table of surface water diversions fails to include the second largest consumer of water in the basin, and the largest user of water in the basin. In 1998, 491 KAF was diverted by TMD' sand 2.3MAF was diverted for hydro-electric power. TMD's are discussed elsewhere in the report, but should be included in this chart and table for comparative purposes. With less than 300,000 irrigated acres in the di vision, trans-mountain diversions run a very close second in terms of consumption against the River Compact. Hydro-electric power does not consume. but is an important player. Impacts on these rights must be considered in any planning. Figure 2 includes the minimum annual discharge for the Colorado River near the Colorado-Utah state line of 1 ,852,284AF in 1977. The new minimum may not yet be in the official record, but I believe is very important in this discussion. In 2002 the total annual flow was 1,754,500AF. It may be useful to document the average annual flow at several gages for the last 20 years and compare it to the flow for the period of record that precedes the last 20 years. I think this is useful because approximately 20 years ago (1982) the Fry-Ark system, the last of the ~ajor TMS's, was fully operation. 1.5 Water Structures: Projects Ruedi is listed as having a primary use of irrigation. While the primary use of the Fry-Ark is irrigation, a portion of the Fry-Ark is municipal, and the replacement pool in the Fry-Ark is net the primary use of Ruedi. The contract pool in Ruedi was initially planned for municipal and industrial, but the current primary use is for endangered fish. You have footnoted that the Con..Hoosier Project diverts to the Arkansas via a portion of the South Platte~ May be unimportant, but Homestake delivers to the South Platte via a portion of the Arkansas where it is split and some is returned to the Arkansas. 1.7 Energy and Mineral Resources The Palisade Power Plant is worthy of mention, at 800efs in the winter and limited by irrigation demand and canal capacity to 310 to 400 cfs in the summer. Prior to settlement of the Orchard Mesa Check case, this power right placed an important call on the River during the irrigation season~ It is not critical during the winter for the power plant has always had a full water supp]y~ 1.9 Land Use Gravel Pits are the most significant mining activities in the basin. These operations have a significant impact on water resources. The Roaring Fork Valley no longer has any coal mines. However, the valley does have a marble quarry and a small alabaster mine. Other, mining activities include the Henderson and Climax Molybdenum Mines~ Though, Climax has been for years mothballed (not shut down)~ 2.4 Major Water Diverters I am not sure why this section does not list the transmountain diversions to the Arkansas River Basin. Cameo Demand There are conditions where the provisions of the check case can be suspended. 2.5 Major Ditch and Reservoir Companies At the risk of offending Fruitvale, why is a lateral to a ditch listed as a major ditch company.