BOARD01008

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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. Colorado Division of Wildlife
. Bureau of Land Management
. Office of State Engineer
. The USFS - San Juan National
Forest

. The Nature Conservancy
. Dolores River Collation
. Colorado Water Trust

Long Hollow Reservoir Project: Wright Water Engineers, on behalf of the La Plata Water
Conservancy District, the Long Hollow Reservoir Project proponents, has submitted a Biological
Assessment (BA) for the project to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. The BA was prepared in
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act regulations as described in Section 7 of
the Endangered Species Act and in furtherance of obtaining the 404 permit required from the
Corp for project construction to proceed.

The Corp received a number of adverse comments from the State of New Mexico, Navajo
Nation, Jicarilla Apaches, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, EP A and others raising concerns about
the project and the environmental impacts that might occur if the proj ect is constructed. In
particular, a number of the comments were made that related to endangered fish and the San Juan
RIP that were incorrect.

Staffwill assist the project sponsors in responding to those comments and work with them to
address the other issues raised as appropriate with the goal of supplementing the BA in a marmer
sufficient to allow the Corps to issue the 404 permit for project construction. Senator Jim Isgar
is appreciative of the assistance and has offered to address the Board and provide them an
overview of the project and its benefits should the Board desire. Staff will keep the Board
informed on progress in addressing the issues raised.

Yampa/White River Basin

Yampa River Decree Issued: The Water Court has decreed the Yampa River (6-01CW106)
Instream Flow Case. Ted Kowalski and Mark Uppendahl of the Instream Flow Section worked
closely with Linda Bassi of the Attorney General's Office in getting this case decreed.

White River Flow Recommendations: In August 2002, the USFWS released a draft report for
White River flow recommendations in Utah and Colorado. This report consisted of two studies,
one concerning high flows for charmel maintenance, and the other involving base flow
recommendations. A second draft of the base flow recommendations was released in October
2003 and is under review. The Biology Committee will discuss the 2nd draft of the report at its
February 2004 meeting. Staff remains concerned about the uncertainties and shortcomings of the
report previous expressed.

Elkhead Enlargement: Elkhead Reservoir Enlargement for Recovery Program Purposes:
In 1993, the Recovery Program began work on a Management Plan for the endangered fish
species in the Yampa River basin (Yampa Plan). The plan is currently in final draft form, with
final action by the Management Committee of the Recovery Program expected soon. Among
other recovery actions, the Yarnpa Plan identifies a need for up to 7,000 acre-feet (at) of water to
augment low flows in the Yampa River, primarily below the town of May bell, during late July
through early October. The Yampa Plan considered several alternatives for providing the
additional water including the enlargement of Elkhead and Stagecoach Reservoirs, use of
Stearn150afLaRe storage wafer,allQ~ifiterruptibleSfl:p))lTcontractsfonrgricultura:l~water:--The
Yampa Plan recommends 5,000 af come from a dedicated augmentation pool established by
enlarging Elkbead Reservoir with the balance of 2,000 af to come from a 20-year lease from the
River District's pool in the Elkbead enlargement. In 1999, the River District agreed to undertake
the expansion ofElkhead Reservoir on its own behalf and on the behalfofthe Recovery
Program. Financially, the River District will be responsible for a pro rata share of costs

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