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<br />July 13, 2001 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br />SUBJECT: <br /> <br />Rod Kuharich, Dan McAuliffe <br />Eric Kuhn <br />Agenda Item # 23 g -- Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement Briefing <br /> <br />Thank you for putting EIkhead Reservoir on the agenda. I plan on making a short presentation (10 to 15 <br />minutes) on the project. The following is an outline of my presentation. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br /> <br />Elkhead Reservoir was constructed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) in 1974 as a fishery and <br />wildlife reservoir. Prior to construction, the owners of the Craig power station Units I and IT made an <br />agreement with CDOW to expand the reservoir from approximately 5,100 a.f. to 13,400 a.f. providing 8,300 <br />a.f. of storage water for the power station. This 8,300 a.f. of storage water for the power plant is only used <br />in extremely dry years, but is essential to the operation of the plant. <br /> <br />The reservoir never developed into the kind of fishery anticipated by CDOW, but has become a very popular <br />recreation resource for Craig area residents. <br /> <br />In the late 80s/early 90s, the City of Craig agreed to purchase the reservoir from the CDOW. The contract <br />has been signed but for a variety of reasons (many related to our efforts to enlarge the project), the sale has <br />not yet closed. The deadline is August 2003. Craig utilizes the remaining active capacity (1,600 a.f.) as a <br />muoicipal water supply. <br /> <br />. EARLIER STUDIES <br /> <br />For over a decade, the River District and Craig (with CWCB help) have been studying various alternatives <br />to enlarge the project. The purpose of the enlargement has been twofold - meet future human uses within <br />the Yampa Basin and augment minimum stream flows on the lower Yampa River (the stretch of river from <br />Craig to the Dinosaur National Monument). This river segment is designated critical habitat for endangered <br />fish. <br /> <br />At one time (when the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's winter and late summer flow recommendations were <br />higher than today's version), we modeled a 44,000 a.f. reservoir. The size of the project created significant <br />local opposition from neighboring landowners. <br /> <br />YAMPA RIVER PBO <br /> <br />In 1999, we began negotiations toward a Yampa River Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO). During <br />the negotiating process, a water subcommittee looked at the water issues in great detail. CDSS was a very <br />important tool in this analysis. <br /> <br />Ultimately, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) decided that it needed to acquire 7,000 a.f. of storage <br />water to augment late summer season flows. (This is a small fraction of what is being used on the Colorado <br />mainstem). At a facilitated meeting PBO meeting held in August 2000, we reached a consensus on how to <br />provide this 7,000 a.f.: <br /> <br />I. 2,000 a.f. from a lease with the Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation for Steamboat <br />Lake. (The lease renewal has been signed). <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Page -1- <br />