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• Board Meeting Date: 7/22/2008
• Description: ISF Section - Lower San Miguel Water Resources Planning Study
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

2005 study included the history of the Uravan area, the history of the water rights and their
development, use, and change, and a historical consumptive use analysis of the water rights. The
study also identified possible options for post-remediation use of the water rights, including
instream flow use and use by local entities, and identified potential issues with those uses.
CWCB staff and Ed Armbruster, P.E., of Leonard Rice Engineering, Inc., presented the study at
a public meeting in Nucla in June 2005. At that meeting, attendees identified several immediate
water needs, and the need for a more comprehensive water planning study for the area prior to
making a decision regarding disposition of the Uravan water rights. Additionally, UMETCO
officials indicated their willingness to work with the local communities to provide water for
immediate needs for town parks and ball fields.
In 2006, the CWCB authorized acost-share of $40,000 for the Lower San Miguel Water
Resources Planning Study from the Severance Tax Trust Fund Operational Account, with the
Southwestern Colorado Water Conservation District contributing $10,000 toward the Study. On
May 29, 2008, at a public meeting in Naturita attended by approximately 40 people, Dan
Merriman presented the preliminary results of the Study. At the same meeting, Jeff Baessler and
Mark Uppendahl gave a presentation on the 2008 recommendation by the Colorado Division of
Wildlife and the BLM for a new instream flow appropriation on the San Miguel River from
Calamity Draw to the confluence with the Dolores River. The recommendations are for 325 cfs
(4/15 - 6/14);170 cfs (6/15 - 7/31);115 cfs (8/1- 8/31); 80 cfs (9/1- 2/28) and 115 cfs (3/1-
4/14). Several people at the meeting expressed concerns about an ISF water right on that reach
of the San Miguel River and whether it would impact future water development. Staff is in the
process of scheduling a public meeting in Norwood and a work session with the San Miguel
County Commissioners on the ISF recommendation for sometime in August. Staff also has been
communicating with the Montrose County manager and hopes to meet with the Montrose County
Commissioners while in the area in August. As part of its investigations, Staff currently is
performing an analysis to determine whether water is available on the subject reach of the River
for the proposed ISF water rights. Copies of letters and emails received by Staff commenting on
the Uravan Water Rights and the ISF recommendation are attached to this memo.
Discussion
Local governmental entities in the lower San Miguel River basin, including Montrose County
and the Towns of Nucla and Naturita, are very interested in obtaining some or all of the Uravan
Water Rights to support future water development. Further, many local residents are concerned
about the impacts of CWCB's potential use of the water rights, which are senior to almost all
water rights on the San Miguel River. Of particular note are the Johnson Ditch water rights,
which are pre-1922 water rights that are not subj ect to a Colorado River Compact call. However,
due to the limited historic use of both the hydropower and direct flow rights, the Uravan water
rights may not be as large or valuable as many perceive them to be. Pages 5-8 of the Study
summarize the results of the historical consumptive use analysis performed in 2005. The
estimated historical consumptive use of the irrigation water rights is 200 AF from April-
October, and for the industrial water rights, is 350 AF year-round (this includes the Johnson
Ditch and the Miguel Power Company Canal water rights). These estimates would need to be
refined in preparation for a change of water rights application.
In the contexts of both the CWCB's use or disposition of the Uravan Water Rights and the ISF
recommendation on the San Miguel River, the CWCB staff is committed to working with local
interests to address their concerns about future water development in a manner that will balance
the needs of people with the preservation of the natural environment to a reasonable degree. The
reach of the San Miguel River recommended for ISF protection provides habitat for