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. j . . e Agenda Item 23f March 20-21,2000 Board Meeting Page 3 of 12 operation were recently completed and distributed. A process is in place to conduct coordinated reservoir operations every year that the peak can be increased to 12,900 cfs or higher without causing out of bank flooding. · Coordinated Management of Colorado Water Division 5 Facilities Phase II Study to add an additional 20,000 AF to Coordinated Reservoir Operation efforts. The 1st part of this study is nearing completion. Additional funding for the 2nd part ofthe study has been obtained and a contract amendment and expanded scope of work drafted. The second part of the study will start shortly. Discussion DW has approved the attached agreement between DW, USFWS and the CWCB to protect the east slope half of the interim 10,825 for up to 10-years at their February, 2000 meeting. The CWCB is being asked to approve the same. Under the agreement, the CWCB would accept the release of water from either Williams Fork Reservoir, or another designated reservoir, as requested by DW and the USFWS and protect those releases to and through the IS-MR. The proposed agreement is similar to the agreement between the CWCB, Reclamation and the Service currently in place for Ruedi Reservoir water. This agreement will compliment the agreements approved last month with CRWCD. Furthermore, the CWCB has made the prerequisite findings concerning legal and physical water availability and the natural environment in several previous actions seeking to protect flows for the IS-Mile Reach as noted above, as well as during the development of the instream flow applications filed in December 1995. This action further compliments previous actions taken to protect flows in the IS-Mile Reach and to meet the Service's flow recommendations as defined in their May 1995 report. Lastly, the Attorney Generals Office has reviewed the proposed agreement and finds it to be acceptable. Recommendation Staff recommends that the CWCB approve the attached agreement with Denver Water and the Service. Staff also recommends that the Board make the following findings as part of its approval: The purpose of these water supplies is to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree and to aid in the conservation and recovery of the endangered fish in the 15-Mile Reach. The water will be used in conjunction with other water supplies to help meet the flow recommendations made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their May 1995 report. Specifically the Board finds that: