BOARD00840

• Board Meeting Date: 7/24/2000
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Ruedi Reservoir - Long-Term Contract and EIS for the Release of 10,825 AF to Endangered Fish in the 15-Mile Reach
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

.

.

STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Sl:reet, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone' [phone]
FAX, [phone]

(Q

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Randy Seaholm #
Chief, Interstate Streams Investigations

Peter H. Evans
eWeB Director

Greg E.Walcner
Executive Director

FROM:

DATE:

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

July 14, 2000

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 21h, July 24-25, 2000, Board Meeting-
Colorado River Basin Issues -
Ruedi Reservoir - Long-term Contract and EIS for the Release of
10,825 AF to Endangered Fish in the IS-Mile Reach

Backl!:round

The Recovery Implementation Prognnll for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper
Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) committed to entering into an interim long-
term contract for the unsold portion of tile regulatory capacity remaining in Ruedi
Reservoir following Round II water sales. This Recovery Program action is also a
component of the reasonable and prudent alternative identified by the U.S, Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service) in the amended Rlledi Round II water sales Biological Opinion
dated January 6, 1999, Following the Round II sales, the remaining unsold regulatory
capacity was 21,650 AF (total regulatory capacity is 51,500 AF), This 21,650 AF is
provided in addition to the existing 40-year Memorandum of Agreement for 10,000 AF
(5,000 from storage and 5,000 available oIl average in four out of five years through
modified operations of Ruedi) for endangered fish purposes. Thus, through December
31, 1999 the total amount of water that could have been delivered from Ruedi Reservoir
for endangered fish purposes was 31,650 AF, However, pursuant to the Final
Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Upper Colorado River, dated December 1999,
the 21,650 AF from Ruedi may be reduced by one-half when water users provide the
other 10,825 AF from other sources. The water users have approved interim agreements
with the Service and this Board for providing that 10,825 AF, Until an interim long-term
contract can be completed, a series of I-year contracts will be used,

Discussion

The U.S, Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) must follow a formal negotlatmg
process in the development of the interim long-term water contract. The first step is to
develop the "Basis for Negotiation" The purpose of the Basis of Negotiation (BON) is
to set forth the background information and justification for the negotiating position,
Elements to be negotiated include, but are not limited to the following:
. Quantity and type of water supply,
. Water rates and fees.