14d ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 7/22/2008
• Description: Directors' Reports - CWCB Director
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

SNOWMASS CREEK MEETING - In 2001, the Snowmass Capitol Creek Caucus and several
other entities filed a petition with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ALOE) to modify the Snowmass
Water and Sanitation District's 404 permit, issued in 1979 for the construction and operation of a
diversion dam on Snowmass Creek to supply water for municipal purposes to the Town of Snowmass
Village.
The petition raised issues related to potential degradation of the fishery, fish habitat and riparian wetlands
in the Snowmass Creek Valley. The petition requested the ALOE to modify the permit to include a
condition making all diversions from the authorized diversion dam from Oct. 16-March 31 of each year
subject to astair-step bypass requirement that would mimic the junior ISF water right held by the CWCB
on Snowmass Creek.
After several meetings, including a presentation to and discussion with the CWCB on the matter attended
by the petitioners, the ALOE, and the District, the parties agreed to establish a monitoring program to
sample fish populations in Snowmass Creek on a periodic basis. Based upon that agreement, the ALOE
tabled the petition to reopen and modify the permit.
The monitoring program, formally established on October 1, 2002, provides for annual fish sampling on
Snowmass Creek at several sites with participation by representatives of the Snowmass Capitol Creek
Caucus, the District, the ALOE, the CWCB and the CDOW. Additionally, the parties engage in habitat
monitoring and hydrologic monitoring on Snowmass Creek.
The parties meet at least once a year to discuss the monitoring results. From 2002-2006, fish sampling
was conducted annually, and last year, the parties moved to bi-annual sampling. On May 22, 2008,
representatives of the parties (primarily biologists) met in Glenwood Springs to assess the results of the
monitoring program and to mutually decide what degree of continued monitoring is necessary. The
CDOW reported a downward trend in fish numbers at the sampling sites in 2006, but noted that flows
were high, which can affect capture efficiency when sampling.
Based upon the requirements of the monitoring program and its results to date, and upon input from the
parties, monitoring will continue for the next three years, at which time the CDOW will summarize the
results of the program and submit the results to the ALOE. The ALOE then will consider taking action
on the petition. On May 22, the participants also scheduled this year's fish sampling activities. (Linda
Bassi)
UPPER COLORADO RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM -10825 PLAN
DEVELOPMENT -Work with the various members of the Steering Committee on the water right and
operational nuances of how the potential Orchard Mesa Irrigation District (OMID) efficiencies might
really work continues as does research on the various funding opportunities that maybe available to
compliment the water provider's resources to implement the OMID component of the "Kitchen Sink"
alternative. Kerry Sundeen met with front-range water providers on June 19 so that they could better
understand the various components of the elements associated with OMID improvements and the use of
Ruedi Reservoir as proposed in the "Kitchen Sink" alternative. The group also discussed various issues
related to Eric Kuhn's proposed concept for sharing the benefits and responsibilities for funding the
improvements between the front-range and west slope. The front-range group will share their thoughts
regarding the proposed concept after more is known about the interrelated mechanics of the OMID, Ruedi
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