RGDSS_Task4_CWCB_Interview

• Title: RGDSS Task 4 - Basin Interviews
• Description: Memo documenting interview with Colorado Water Conservation Board.
• Decision Support - Doc Type: Task Memorandum
• Date: 8/24/1999
• DSS Category: Surface Water
• DSS: Rio Grande
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Contract/PO #: C153863
• Grant Type: Non-Reimbursable
• Bill Number: HB98-1189, SB99-173
• Prepared By: Leonard Rice Engineering

RGDSS Memorandum
Final
TO: Ray Bennett
FROM: Ed Armbruster, Hydrosphere
SUBJECT: RGDSS Surface Water, Task 4.3 -Colorado Water Conservation Board
Interview
DATE: August 24, 1999
CC: Randy Seaholm
Introduction
This memorandum represents delivery associated with Task 4.3, CWCB Interview /Prepare
Summary Memorandum. The objective of this task is as follows:
Meet with the Colorado Water Conservation Board regarding instream flow water rights
and other instream water uses in the Rio Grande Basin.
In June and July, 1999, telephone interviews were conducted with Andy Moore and Bahman
Hatami of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). The purpose of these interviews
was to develop a better understanding of CWCB interests and instream flow rights such that this
information could be reflected in surface water modeling efforts associated with the Rio Grande
Decision Support System (RGDSS). The following discussion summarizes information
developed during these interviews.
Overview of CWCB
The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) was created in 1937 for the purpose of aiding
in the protection and development of the waters of the state, for the benefit of its present and
future inhabitants. The CWCB promotes the conservation of the waters of the State of Colorado
in order to secure the greatest utilization of such waters and the utmost prevention of floods.
To accomplish this mission, the CWCB is organized into four administrative sections, in addition
to the Office of Water Conservation, in order to implement the Board's statutory responsibilities.
The four administrative sections include the following: Interstate Compacts, Project Planning
and Construction, Floodplain Management, and Instream Flows.
The Instream Flow section is responsible for the appropriation, acquisition and protection of
instream flow and natural lake level water rights to preserve the natural environment to a
reasonable degree. Since the creation of the State's Instream Flow Program in 1973, the CWCB
has appropriated instream flow water rights on more than 8,000 miles of streams and 486 natural
lakes in the state.
C:Acdss\CWCB.doc CWCB Interview August 24, 1999- Page 1 of 2