7921

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7921
• Author: Trembly, T. L. and G. A. Gould.
• Title: Opportunities To Protect Instream Flows In Colorado And Wyoming.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Biological Report 87‎(10)‎,
• Copyright Material: NO

INTRODUCTION

OPPORTUNITIES TO PROTECT INSTREAM FLOWS IN COLORADO

by

Terrence L. Trembly

Colorado, like many other Western States, has increasing and competing
demands on its water resources. Growing human population, agriculture, energy
and other natural resource development that requires water, and an expanding
demand for a variety of water-based recreation have increased competition for
Colorado's water resources. These competing uses have stimulated Colorado's
lawmakers to enact an instream flow program within the State water rights
system.

This paper focuses on the opportunities to protect instream flows in
Colorado under existing State laws and procedures. These State laws and the
primary agency responsible for their administration--the Colorado Water
Conservation Board--place emphasis on preservation of instream flows for the
protect i on and enhancement of fi sh and other wi ldl i fe va 1 ues. It should be
pointed out that instream flows may serve many purposes, however, and more
than one purpose may be served by a particular instream flow provision in any
given stream segment. Instream flows may be advantageous for the following
reasons:

(1)
(2)
(3)
(4 )
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)

stock wateri ng;
water based recreation--swimming, rafting, kayaking, boating;
aesthetics;
aquatic life protection and production;
wildlife habitat--waterfowl, large and small game animals;
aquifer recharge;
dilution water for effluent discharges from municipal and industrial
wastewater sources;
maintaining water delivery to downstream users; and
channel maintenance/flushing flows.

An understanding of the State administrative agencies that have responsi-
bility, directly or indirectly, for water resource management or administration
is essential to determining the opportunities and constraints for implementing
instream flow strategies in Colorado. The following is a brief description of
each State agency that may in some way influence or affect stream flows.

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