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D. Determining Flow Needs in the 15-mile Reach. <br />1. The FWS submitted its flow recommendations of 700- <br />1,200 c.f.s. for July, August, and September to the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board in August 1989. These <br />recommendations were finalized after thorough reviews and <br />comments by all participants. Numerous drafts were <br />developed to address concerns expressed by the state and <br />water development interests. <br />2. The Board completed its review in January 1990, and <br />agreed that the methodology and biological data are <br />adequate to make an instream flow appropriation in some <br />amount for three months, but that the Board does not have <br />sufficient information to make its statutory required <br />finding of water availability. The Board staff and FWS <br />will be working on obtaining funding for obtaining these <br />data. <br />3. The FWS is continuing work on studies to quantify flow <br />needs for the remainder of the year. <br />E. Protecting Instream Flows in the 15-mile Reach. <br />1. The BOR has been studying alternative water supplies <br />for the 15-mile reach and the study results are due the <br />end of April. <br />a. The alternatives that the BOR have been examining <br />are: <br />(1) release of water from new or existing <br />reservoirs; <br />(2) purchase of existing agricultural water rights <br />from willing sellers; <br />(3) relocation of the point of diversion of water <br />diverted to the Grand Valley irrigation systems; <br />(4) improvement of irrigation efficiency in the <br />Grand Valley so that water diversions could be <br />reduced; <br />(5) original instream flow appropriations by the <br />state; and <br />(6) consideration of miscellaneous alternatives <br />including ground water pumping. <br />b. The BOR will identify potential institutional and <br />legal constraints of alternatives. A related legal <br />6