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Page 3 <br />the inundation of the CWCB's instream flow. In the inundation request, the District states that it <br />will seek a Section 404 Permit, but does not know "whether or not a Section 404 Permit could be <br />obtained for the Project...." Inundation Request, p. 4. The District conducted a preliminary <br />wetlands study within the area to determine the probability of obtaining a Section 404 Permit, <br />but the District concedes that the investigation is only "preliminary and additional studies will be <br />necessary in the future." Inundation Request, p. 4. The District also admits that the "exact <br />amount of Project depletions are not known at this time." Inundation Request, pp. 5 -6. "The <br />actual depletions will depend upon the end use and will be assessed during the District's <br />continuing review of the Morrison Creek Reservoir." Inundation Request, p. 6. The District also <br />has not submitted plans and specifications with the State Engineer for a jurisdictional dam <br />pursuant to section 37 -87 -105, C.R.S. (2009), and its storage plan submitted to the court is <br />negligible, thus not fully complying with Rule 7c. <br />Since the District concedes that its studies are preliminary and its depletions are <br />unknown, the extent of this possible inundation of the CWCB's instream flow right by Morrison <br />Creek Reservoir is still not known with any precision, and the inundation request is premature at <br />this time. <br />Third, the Board should wait to hear the inundation request until there is adequate <br />information from the permitting process to determine the effects of the inundation on the ISF and <br />any mitigation imposed by section 37 -60- 122.2. The District and the CWCB will learn much <br />about the details of the reservoir and appropriate mitigation only after the permitting process has <br />begun. After the District has applied for its permit, which is likely a permit subject to the <br />requirements of section 37 -60- 122.2, both the Colorado Division of Wildlife ( "CDOW ") and the <br />CWCB will have to review a mitigation plan proposed by the District. Further, in every <br />inundation request, the CWCB shall consider "any mitigation or compensation to offset the <br />adverse impacts on the ISF right." Rule 7g. Further, the Board may deny a request for <br />inundation if "[n]o compensation or mitigation would be adequate for the injury" caused by the <br />inundation. Rule 7k. Thus, reviewing proposed mitigation now, without having the benefit of the <br />full details of the reservoir and its effects to the natural environment, is not a judicious use of the <br />CWCB's time and resources. <br />Neither Staff nor the CDOW are able to evaluate this inundation request because the <br />extent of the possible inundation of the CWCB's instream flow right on Morrison Creek <br />Reservoir is not known with precision at this time. It is premature for the Board to consider <br />inundation of its instream flow right on Silver Creek. <br />Finally, as set forth in the stipulation, the extent of the inundation of the CWCB's <br />instream flow right as it relates to the proposed Morrison Creek Reservoir is still not known with <br />precision at this time, and thus, the Board should wait until the permitting process is further <br />along to determine the appropriate mitigation needed to continue to protect the natural <br />environment to a reasonable degree despite the inundation. However, if the Board desires to <br />hear the inundation request outside of the terms of the stipulation or without the benefit of <br />knowing the mitigation requirements imposed under section 37- 60- 122.2, it should give Staff <br />more time to investigate the request because the District has provided inadequate information to <br />evaluate such request at this time. <br />