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August 2000 CRWCD * Ymqu Ruer Rom Small Rm wo- Study - Phase 2 Report * Page ? 8 ' The Recovery Program provides a means of implementing a broad range of measures for protection and recovery of the endangered fish species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, taking into consideration existing and future water development. The USFWS, in conjunction with the CRWCD, ' Yampa River Basin Partnership, Federal and State agencies, and water users are in the process of developing a Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO) for the Yampa River Basin. The PBO will describe water management and fish management strategies for recovery of the endangered fish species. Several small reservoir sites could potentially supplement flow to the Yampa River and are ' under consideration as part of the water management strategy currently being evaluated. 2.2 PHASE 1 SUMMARY Phase 1 of the small reservoir study was conducted to identify and evaluate small reservoir opportunities in the Yampa River basin. Small storage was defined as 200 to 2,000 ac-ft. Local water. ' users and Division 6 staff were consulted and USGS topographic maps were reviewed for potential locations. The specific objectives of the project were: ' • To identify small reservoir sites in the Yampa River basin that can satisfy existing and long-term water supply needs. • To identify projects that may be feasible based on local water demands and water availability. • To identify a recommended project, or projects, that wan-ant further examination of t geotechnical conditions, recreational opportunities, water demands, and costs. During Phase 1, a two-stage screening process was utilized to identify the project(s) that demonstrated t the best potential to provide water storage for short- and long-term agricultural needs. The preliminary screening assessed whether a tributary watershed had existing irrigated agriculture or the potential for future irrigated agriculture (including the possibility of historic irrigation being ' reactivated); sufficient water yield; and cultural/political concerns. The preliminary screening process eliminated 28 streams based on lack of irrigated agriculture, inadequate hydrology and/or cultural/political considerations. ' Following the preliminary screening, 50 individual tributary streams with small storage opportunities were identified. These tributary watersheds contained 106 potential individual sites. Several of the sites were existing structures that could potentially be enlarged. In addition, several locations had ' been previously identified in prior studies and/or have conditional storage rights. In the past, some of these locations had been considered as much larger projects (greater than 10,000 ac-ft). These sites were included in this study because it might be feasible to construct smaller reservoirs in these locations. A more detailed screening process evaluated the 106 potential sites. The criteria evaluated included water demand, estimated inflow hydrology, environmental/land-use flaws, recreational potential, and ' the potential of the reservoir to deliver sufficient water to meet demand. Project costs were not developed or used as evaluation criteria. Detailed hydrologic and water rights/administration evaluations were not conducted. Twenty-four potential sites remained after the more detailed screening process. Table 1, Sumrwy of Potential Sites Fran Phase 1 that Warrant Further Ca uideration, identifies the 24 sites and provides the ' rationale for retaining these sites. Eighteen of the potential sites readily meet the storage criteria of 200 - 2,000 ac-ft. The Morrison Creek #1, Rampart, Thornburgh, and Pot Hook sites were also included as potential sites, although these sites have a much greater storage capacity than 2,000 ac-ft. ' Consideration of smaller capacity reservoirs at these sites is appropriate due to current economic ' Wnvr10531JV 2 Rq- Montgomery Watson * P.O Box 774018 • Ste rdw Springs Colorado 80477 *(970)879-6260 OaiJO VOH