Agenda Item 12: Lake San Cristobal Natural Lake Stabilization Issues

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l `;_)Gunnison Basin People Opposing Wale, E.pod Roids June 15, 1991 OUTLINE OF POWER'S POSITION AND ACTIONS ON LAKE SAN CRISTOBAL RESERVOIR POWER's organizational objective - - -- Gunnison Basin POWER opposes and seeks to prevent further transmountain diversion from the Gunnison River Basin. POWER's specific objective - - -- POWER seeks protection of the present condition of Lake San Cristobal Reservoir, decreed as a reservoir on July 7, 1925, and also seeks the opportunity for greater local control over what happens to this reservoir's waters. Why POWER filed for a water right - - -- 1. POWER believes water is available in Lake San Cristobal Reservoir which could be used directly for transmountain diversion, indirectly for augmentation and exchange facilitating this purpose elsewhere within the Gunnison Basin, and for pump - storage hydroelectric power generation. The lake level and the timing and quantities of flows from the lake could be controlled for such purposes and could adversely affect its present condition. 2. POWER has sought to apprize the Town of Lake City, Hinsdale County, and others in the area of its concerns for Lake San Cristobal Reservoir and to keep them informed of its actions. Background 1, Lake San Cristobal Reservoir was decreed as a reservoir in 1925 for the generation of electrical power. There are presently Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) withdrawals adjacent to the lake for water power development. 2. Since 1906, the date of appropriation for the reservoir, and perhaps before, the natural lake level has been raised by material and structures placed at the outlet. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) in 1980 received a decree for what it appears to have believed was a natural lake level condition and volume of P.O. Box V42 a o:: i m. tel y 13 Gunnison, CO 81230 ppr ,545 acre -feet. However, an administrative error was made in this filing because the recorded decree is described by flows, page 2 not lake level. The signifLeaiice of this is that it appears the conditions of the CWCB decrae'�ould be satisfied while draining Lake San Cristobal Feservoir understands that the CWCB is l now seeking to correct this vrror brought to its attention by POWER. 4. POWER'S filing is riot for the natural lake Ievel but for the additional present ar,lrficial lake level created by materials and structures pladed at the lake outlet_ The present level of the lake and its volume of approximately 14,040 acre - feet are greater than the natural lake conditions as a result of this man -made artificial impoundment. 5. The purposes for water use given in POWER's filing are E recreational activities wildlife ,.. protection, preservation of the';. natural environment, heritageand watershed protection, and flood 4 , control. These are appropriatp uses which may be decreed for water in an artificial reservoir. b. These purposes and uses are also ones of particular significance not only to the applicants, but to the residents and', to visitors in the Lake City Area and to the Area's economy. 7. POWER's filing is nAt' incompatible with the CWCB, There are two layers of water.!34n the lake. The CWCB decree for v water naturally impounded "holds up" the upper layer created by ' the artificial man -made impoundment. Water for which POWER seeks ,f' a decree rides "piggy- back" q ':that in the corrected decreed sought by the CWCB. POWER seeks a lake level sustained by the total capacity of the reservoir. E. POWER'S proposal - - -- 1. POWER is a non - prof ;t' membership supported corporation Cooperation is sought with the CWCB to find a way of adequately protecting the present condi�1tl6s of the lake and providing the opportunity for greater local over what happens to this valued resource. As applicantt,� POWER and Mr. Ward believe their,; shared objectives would best "' 'served if the application wld be taken over by the Town of Lake City and / or Hinsdale Coun This would provide: (1) protection of the present condition of Lake San Cristobal; (2) a posZtion of stronger local influence in decisions made by the CWCB regarding the lake and its water right; and (3) greater local protection for public and private investments made in and around`L.ake San Cristobal. 2. POWER and Mr. Ward dd seek to recover their expenses in making this application so thgt {their limited resources can be reapplied to other efforts in furthering the protection of the Gunnison Basins's water resources. The costs and 'expenses are approximately `E3,000.o0 at present. t• I�