Correspondences Concerning Offsetting Reudi Reservoir Releases as a Result of Critical Habitat Designation

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Hall, Pitts & Associates 7\\ CONSULTING ENGINEERS May 23, 1994 MEMO TO: Eric Kuhn FROM: Tom Pitts SUBJECT: Discussions With U.S. Bureau of Reclamation from Ruedi Reservoir Designation Gam# Fc ,; F L -90 Fish and Wildlife Service and Regarding Additional Releases as a Result of Critical Habitat Recovery Program Management Committee Activities By memo of May 4, I informed you and other members of the Colorado Water Congress Special Management Committee that USFWS had proposed several new actions under the Recovery Implementation Program's Recovery Action Plan that would have to be carried out under the Program to offset impacts of depletions to the recently designated critical habitat. Among these proposals was the one below: "Enter into agreement for all available uncommitted water from Ruedi Reservoir -i eh would replaee —the 19,99 ere- F ..t under the — year- te-- year lease." On May 20, the Recovery Program Management Committee met for the second time to discuss these proposed changes to the Recovery Action Plan. The Service clarified that it meant only -the uncommitted water "after Round II water sales." USFWS pointed out during the discussion that it only wants the water until such time as all "flow recommendations" are met. USFWS is assuming that water from alternative sources will fully meet the flow recommendations developed by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. However, the Service is not distinguishing between its flow recommendations and the flows that will be actually appropriated by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Furthermore, USFWS has not yet made any distinction between paragraph 3 and paragraph 4 waters pursuant to the policy statement adopted by the Colorado Water Conservation Board in March, 1994. 535 North Garfield Avenue Loveland, Colorado 80537 -5548 303 667 -8690