BOARD01008

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

'.

STATE OF COLOR;\OO

OFFlCE.OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 718
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
TDD: (3031866-3543
Fax: [phone]

RECEiVi)Jp
JAN 05 2004

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Colorado Water Conserva!loll ~t%111",

DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAl
RESOURCES

Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director

January 2,2004

Mr. Brian Person
Eastern Colorado Area Office
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
11056 West County Road l8E
Loveland, CO 80537-9711

Re: 2004-2005 Flow Recommendation for the Upper Arkansas

Dear Mr. Person:

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) appreciates the continued cooperation of the US .
Bureau of Reclamation and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District (SECWCD) in the
implementation of an annual flow program for fisheries and rafting in the Upper Arkansas River Basin, consistent
with the operation of the Frying Pail-Arkansas Project. I am once again submitting this year's reco=endations for
the annual flow management program for the Upper Arkansas River. This request covers the period from May 2004
to May 2005.

These reco=endations are intended to provide an annual flow regime that helps the state maintain the
brown trout fishery, meet the demand for boating recreation, and support the region's tourism industrY while
allowing the managers of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area to meet their obligation to manage recreation
and natural resources within the. area's boundaries.

DNR recognizes that the implementation of these. flow management recommendations will be subordinate
to the rights of water owners and water users, and must not impair their associated diversions, storage, or exchanges
of water . All flows reco=ended here should be measured at the Wellsville gauge.

Specifically, with respect to the 2004-2005 flow program, I reco=end that:

I. The highest priority is the maintenance ofa minimum year-round flow of at least 250 cfs to protect the fishery.

2. Winter incubation flows (mid November through April) should be maintained at a level of not niore than 5
inches below river height during the spawning period (October 15 to November 15). The optimum flow range is
from 250 to 400 cfs, depending on spawning flows: .

Minimum Incubation Flow
Nov. 16-Apr. 30.:<
250 eft
325 eft
400 eft .

Spawning Flow.
Oel.15 -Nav. 15
IF .300 - 500 eft
IF 500 - 600 eft
IF . 600 - 700 efs

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Board of land Commis.sioners . Division .of Minerals &. ~eologyiCeological Survey
Oil & Gas Conservation Commission _ Colorado State Parks _ Division of Forestry
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