BOARD00782

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Endangered Species Issues - Ruedi Reservoir Round II Contracts and Annual Contract for Endangered Fish - Status Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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. STATE OF COLORI\DO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
1 313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 60203
Phone: [phone]
FNC (3031 866-4474

MEMORANDUM

TO:
FROM:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
Randy Seaholm ~
Sue Uppendahl
May 5,1998
Agenda Item 26g.ii, May 11-12 1998, Board Meeting-
Ruedi Reservoir Round II Contracts and Annual Contract for
Endangered Fish - Status Report

DATE:
SUBJECT:

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) continues to work on a process that
would allow Round II water sale contracts for Ruedi Reservoir to proceed. Pursuant to
the May 1995 Ruedi Biological Opinion, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) must
have the unsold portion of Ruedi water (21,650 AF) made available to endangered fish on
a long term basis before this can occur. Resolution of these issues as they relate to the
Colorado River/I5 Mile Reach biological opinion will take some time. Reclamation has
initiated discussions with the FWS on how Round II contracting might resume without
jeopardizing discussions on the Colorado River biological opinion.

On March 16, 1998, Reclamation met with FWS to discuss options that would permit
renewal of Round II contracting for water from Ruedi Reservoir. Subsequently
Reclamation developed a proposal that would permit contracting for up to 6,135 af of
Ruedi Round II water with an additional 10,865 AF available for contracting upon
signature of an agreement, yet to be develope~between FWS, CWCB, and Reclamation
for delivery of Ruedi water to the 15 Mile reach of the Colorado River.

This proposal has been reviewed and agreed to by Reclamation management and has
been submitted to the FWS for review and comment. If the FWS concurs with the draft
proposal, it will be submitted to CWCB for review and comment. If the CWCB concurs
with the approach in the proposal, Reclamation will submit a formal request to FWS to
revise the May 1995 biological opinion.

Staff will inform the CWCB as soon as a proposal is received from Reclamation. As
previously directed by the CWCB, no additional annual contract for Ruedi water for
endangered fish will be presented to the CWCB until the Round II contracting issues are
resolved.

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Roy Romer
Governor
James S. Lochhead
Executive Director, DNR
DnriesC. Ule, P.E.
Director, ewes