Agenda Item 12: Lake San Cristobal Natural Lake Stabilization Issues

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STATE OF COLORADO COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD Department of Natural Resources 721 State Centennial Building 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: (303) 866 -3441 MEMORANDUM TO: Members, CWCB FROM: Dan Merriman DATE: July 16, 1991 Roy Romer Governor David W. Walker Director SUBJECT: Agenda Item 12, July 23 -24, 1991, Board Meeting- - Lake San Cristobal - Hinsdale County - Presentation on Natural Lake Stabilization Issues Background Lake San Cristobal is a natural lake which is located approximately four miles south of Lake City in Hinsdale County. The lake was formed as a result of the Slumgullion landslide which blocked the flow of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. Lake San Cristobal has a volume of approximately 14,000 acre feet and, as the State's second largest natural lake, occupies 350 surface acres. The Board holds a water right on the lake to maintain a natural lake level of approximately 8,995 feet above mean sea level with a May 12, 1976, appropriation date. Recently, two issues have arisen regarding Lake San Cristobal in which the Board is involved. The first centers around concerns which have been expressed by the Hinsdale County commissioners and others over the stability of the lake's outlet. The other issue relates to a water right application recently filed by Gunnison POWER, Inc. (People Opposing Water Export Raids) and J.S. Ward for a water storage right in Lake San Cristobal which the Board opposed. Since these issues are mot duectLy _re ated� =they vi li e Ad ftssed- .separately Natural Lake Stabilization Issue The landslide which formed the lake created a natural dam which is composed of highly erosive material. Over the years, flows through the natural outlet have resulted in an armoring of the stream channel. However, this armoring is subject to erosion during high streamflows, as were experienced in the 1950's, and more recently in the mid- 1980's.