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<br /> <br />05/0~f2003 16:07 FAX 2022084684 <br /> <br />A/S FISH/WILDLIFE/PARK <br /> <br />of May, June and July. Keeping our request to these three months is supported by the <br />scientific studies and analysis undertaken by the National Park Service, which are <br />referenced in the attached supporting document (Attachment B). Moreover, by tailoring <br />our request to only these three months, we are maintaining the status quo in the Gunnison <br />River Basin while also allowing any runoff that occurs outside of the spring runoff period <br />to be available for future appropriation (our records show that in 1984, the wettest year <br />on record, an additional 1,000,000+ acre-feet of runoff entered the Basin outside of the <br />Spring runoffperiod), <br /> <br />oUr request, therefore, is that the CWCB initiate a notice to appropriate the maximum <br />volume of water available for appropriation at the upstream boundary of the Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for the months of May through July as set forth in <br />Attachment A, which volume is necessary to achieve the shoulder flows and low, <br />medium, and high peak flows set forth in the table that is included in our Agreement of . , <br />April 2, 2003. Reclamation model runs in Attachment A, using historical data and <br />current operating conditions, establish that there is sufficient water available at the head <br />of the Park to support these flows. We believe that this seasonal volume is the minimum <br />amount necessary to protect tile natural environment of Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Park to a reasonable degree as has been detennimidby the analysis contained in <br />Attachment B. We are aware of your concern about the CWCB appropriating water in <br />amounts that constitute a "flood flow." While we do not interpret the right to ever be <br />able to "callout" any flood control operations conducted by Reclamation at the Aspinall <br />Unit, we also ask that the CWCB right expressly recognize the senior water right of the <br />Aspinall Unit for:flood COntrol purposes to further alleviate your concern. This express <br />provision confinns"that the CWCB instream flow water'right will not interfere with <br />Reclamation ppljlrations for fl?od control purposes. Thus, any high flows that reach the <br />park will not"qccur because of the instream flow appropriation, but instead will result <br />from 'R.eclamation's managenient' of forecasted spillllonditions. <br />~.'\. ." <br />. ' ,', . ..,. . <br />.' VI e,are also aware qf your concern about Aspinall Unit operations during the wetter years <br />, when bypas~.andlor:,spil1 cl'lnd~ti6ns lfre forecast and the CWCB instream flow right <br />would be .large. ;.Experi~c.e has 'demonstrated that spilI conditions can be managed such <br />thll~f1ooding is minimiz~d.and peak flows thr,ough the park can still be reasonably <br />expecte~.' '. .;' '.. . <br />" <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />J!,"~ .1 <br />I~ "(:~- <br />Craig Manson " <br />Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks <br /> <br />Enclosures <br /> <br />~003 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br />