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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I DRAFT 8/24/92, Page 26 increase in the combined yield of the Denver and Northern systems of about 6,000 acre feet. The benefit to the west slope would be increased flows in the Fraser river basin. Issues To Be Addressed Coordinated operations of the Moffat and Windy Gap projects may require changes in water rights in order to maximize flexibility. The Windy Gap project is currently designed to divert and pump water during late spring and summer high runoff conditions. Modifications may have to be made to the Windy Gap pumping facilities in order to allow for pumping during low flow conditions. Coordinated project operations would require a high level of cooperative planning among Denver, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District. C. Colorado Basin: Coordination Among Reservoirs Seven major reservoirs with a combined active capacity of over 1,000,000 acre feet will soon exist on major tributaries of the Colorado River above Grand Junction. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation operates Granby, Willow Creek and Green Mountain reservoirs as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project and Ruedi reservoir as part of the Frying Pan-Arkansas project. Denver controls Dillon and Williams Fork reservoirs as part of its raw water supply system. Construction will soon begin on the Colorado River Water Conservation District's Muddy Creek reservoir. Coordinated operations of these major water projects (in conjunction with their east slope components) could result in substantial benefits in the areas of water supply yield, water quality management, instream flows and recreational needs. An annual operating plan could be cooperatively developed to address specific water management needs based on local and regional expected runoff, demand or instream flow-related "hotspots" and carryover needs. Specific examples of such operations include making replacement releases from alternate points based on variances in local runoff conditions, balancing releases during critical low flow period in order to minimize stress on fish populations and wastewater assimilative capacities, and allowing for temporary use of one reservoir pool by another set of interests. Issues To Be Addressed An advanced decision support capability would be needed in order to examine various operating plans and tradeoffs. The Colorado Water Conservation Board and State Engineer's office are currently developing a feasibility study for such a decision support system. An appropriate forum would have to be established among water users, project owners and operators and public interests for articulating various needs and balancing competing needs into operating plans. Various local and federal law and regulations may have to be modified to allow for such operational flexibility among a sphere of interests larger than originally contemplated by project water rights and enabling legislation.