Summary of Yampa River Basin Operation & Management Plan Work Group Meeting

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• MEMORANDUM - Background for August 30, 1995 Meeting Page 2 Fundamental in the discussion is the amount of water allocated to Colorado and the amount of water currently in use. The Colorado River Compacts were negotiated based on a perceived 15 MAF of available water. Recent hydrology indicates the available water may be only 14.5 MAF. Additionally, differing interpretations of Colorado's obligation under the Mexican Treaty effect the amount of water which may be available to Colorado. The estimates of water development potential to be protected for the Yampa River basin the CDWG range from 164,572 AF (based on a total entitlement of 3.079 MAF) to 338,013 AF (based on 3.855 MAF). In Table 1 we have attempted to put relative meaning to these amounts of water by equating them to industry, agriculture and population. We hope this presentation gives meaning to the amount of development which must occur within the Yampa river basin to consume these amounts of water. Figure 2 Using the demand patterns developed during the Yampa Feasibility Study, Figure 2 shows that much of the dry year future demand projected for the Yampa River would occur out of sync with the available supply. To meet this demand pattern storage would need to be constructed. Figure 3 Using the demand patterns developed during the Yampa Feasibility Study, Figure 2 shows that much of the average year future demand projected for the Yampa River would occur out of sync with the available supply. To meet this demand pattern some storage would need to be constructed, although less than would be required to meet dry year demands. Figure 4 Figure 4 suggests a shift in the demand impact on the hydrograph which would be realized if storage would be constructed to meet the dry year demand levels. This would be a suggestion for the pattern of development potential which should be protected when considering an instream flow filing.