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Director's Corner- Spring has arrived and concerns about instream flow protection and winter diver- sions, especially snowmaking diver- sions, have come and gone with little controversy. With the low moisture condi- tions last fall/winter season, everyone was apprehensive that an administrative call by the CWCB would be necessary to pro- tect the natural environment. Thanks to the amount and timing of the snowfall, and sufficient baseflow in our streams, the necessity for a "call" was averted. In recent years, the state's Stream and Lake Protection Program (ISF Program) has been fortunate to benefit from the data collection, monitoring and planning tools that have been developed to assist in the wise use of Colorado's water resources. One such tool is the Colorado Decision Support System, which is described in this newsletter in an article by Michelle Garison. These monitoring and planning tools in combination with assistance from our sis- ter state agencies, federal agencies, and special interest groups, provide a sound foundation for the protection of the state's instream flow water rights. It is fitting that What's new? we recognize State Engineer Hal Simpson in this issue on InStream Colorado for his contributions, not only as the head of the state's Division of Water Resources but also as a member of the CWCB. Hal con- tinues to playa significant role in the administration of the state's instream flow water rights and in the development and implementation of policies relating to the ISF Program. Hal, we appreciate your sup- port! This spring the ISF Program staffwill be collecting and reviewing data for new ISF appropriations, monitoring streamflows, reviewing water court resumes, evaluating that ISF water rights are providing "rea- sonable protection of the natural environ- ment," and exploring new means of acquiring water or interests in water to protect the state's water dependent natural environment. These activities represent quite an under- taking, not to mention a significant responsibility. This is why your continued support of the state's Stream and Lake Pro- tection Program is so important to the CWCB and it's staff. YOU are needed to ensure the state's water dependent natural environment is protected to a reasonable degree! Thanks.. -Dan Merriman, Director Stream and Lake Protection Program Slreamgaging Symposium. The CWCB, along with the Division of Water Resources, the USGS, and the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, is sponsoring the Colorado Streamgaging Symposium on May 3, 2001 in Breckenridge. The symposium will focus on the importance of streamflow data, historic and current coverage of streamflow gages in Colorado, and opportunities available to the water community to diversify and possibly increase overall investments for the support of streamflow data collection and dissemination. Donation Approved. In March, the CWCB accepted the terms of an agreement with the San Juan Resources Conservation and Development Council, which provides for the donation of a senior water right in the upper Animas River drainage near Silverton. The donation, which is contingent upon the sale of the senior right, will preserve the natural environment of North Mineral Creek and Bighorn Gulch. Golden Trial Continues. Nearly three years ago, the City of Golden filed an application in the water court for several "in channel diversions" on Clear Creek in the amount up to 1000 cfs. Several entities including the CWCB filed objection to this case. A four-day trial for the Golden case commenced on March 12,2001. In the meantime, the Court granted the CWCB's motion to dismiss the piscatorial uses requested in the application. The trial will continue on May to, 2001. 2 (CDSS from page 1) and Yampa and 1S-Mile Reach Program- matic Biologic Opinions which protect existing water uses and an incremental future water development potential in the basins, within the framework of the Endangered Species Act and the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. CRDSS will be used for similar work in the Gunnison and White river basins. The CWCB is also using these tools to help the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) improve its Colorado River salin- ity modeling and to provide the USBR with detailed information on the hydrol- ogyofthe SanJuan River Basin. Water users in the Upper Gunnison Basin will use the CRDSS to develop their annual consumptive use reports to the USBR as part of their subordination agreement regarding the Aspinall unit. The recent water right filing for the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will be evalu- ated using these same tools. How can you use these tools? \1S1T OUR WEBSITE! These systems are available to the public. Background information, data, and the software can be found at (http://cdss.state.co.us/)..