BOARD00352

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: ISF Section - New Appropriation Recommendations in Water Division 4
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
WWW.cwcb.state.co.llS

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To:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Bill Owens
Governor

From: JeffBaessler
Todd Doherty

Russell George
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Date January 13, 2006

Rick Brown, Acting
Deputy Director

Re: Agenda Item 30, January 24-25, 2006 - Board Meeting
Stream and Lake Protection - ISF Appropriations in Water Division 4

Background

On January 25, 2005, the CWCB formed its intent to appropriate instream flow water
rights on several stream segments within the North Fork and the Smith Fork Gunnison River
basins. During the public comment period, concerns were raised regarding these proposed
filings and Notices to Contest were received by the CWCB. The concerns related to the
administration of the proposed instream flow water rights and their effects on the numerous
undecreed water uses in the area. Also, there were concerns that the instream flow water rights
would prevent future water development in the basins. To better address these concerns, the
CWCB and the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD) each committed $5,000
for water planning purposes. Staff has also held several public meetings in Hotchkiss, Crawford
and Delta to discuss the proposed instream flow appropriations and their effects on the water
users. At the July 2005 CWCB meeting, Staff recommended that the CWCB table these
instream flow appropriations to allow additional time for the water users to adjudicate their
undecreed water use and to further study water availability, especially as it relates to the future
water needs in the basin.

Water Availability Study

Staff and the CRWCD have contracted with CDM and Leonard Rice Engineering to
complete a water availability study for the affected subbasins. The objective is to provide a
realistic estimate of the ultimate build-out of the subbasins and the associated future water
demand. This estimated water demand will then be used to determine how the proposed
instream flow water rights would affect the future development in the subbasins. Based on this
analysis, Staff may recommend modifications to some or all of the original recommendations,

Staff had hoped to have the study results in time to present them at the January 2006
meeting. However, the analysis is taking longer than anticipated and Staff needs additional time
to share and discuss the results with the North and Smith Fork basin stakeholders.

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