BOARD01175

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Riverine Fish Flow Investigations, CDOW Instream Flow Recommendations for Colorado and Yampa Rivers
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

To: CWCB Members

From: Michelle Garrison
Randy Seaholm pRY

Russell George
Executive Director

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

Date: January 19, 2004

Re: Agenda Item 15, January 27-28, 2004 Board Meeting
Water Supply Protection Section - Riverine Fish Flow Investigations
CDOW Instream Flow Recommendations for Colorado and Yampa Rivers.

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Backl!round
In 1995 the CWCB filed for instream flow water rights on the Colorado and YampaRivers (case
numbers 5-95CW296 and 5-95CW297, and 6-95CW155 and 6-95CWI56, respectively). These
instream flow filings were based on flow recommendations from the Upper Colorado River
Recovery Program to benefit the endangered fish. In 1999, the CWCB withdrew the filings and
requested the Colorado Division of Wildlife develop a methodology for determining flow
recommendations for native fishes for both rivers based on state standards for instream flow
investigations.

The CDOW formulated a project to determine an appropriate methodology for determining flow
needs for warm water native fish. Rick Anderson of the CDOW was the lead investigator. The
project commenced in August 1999 and was completed in June 2003. Annual reports were produced
and are available from CDOW. Related investigations are ongoing and will continue based on
available funding.

CDOW Investil!ation
An important goal of the CDOW project was to investigate a biologically-based method of
determining flow needs for warm water fishes. It was unknown whether standard procedures used
for instream flow calculations for cold water habitats, including the PHABSIM and R2Cross
computer programs, were appropriate for lower stretches of river with different habitat and fish
species. The Recovery Program has not yet chosen one standard method for making their-instream
flow recommendations.

The CDOW study utilized a labor-intensive 2D habitat and flow model that allowed researchers to
study the amount and type of available habitat at a given amount of flow. Many Recovery Program
. members have stressed the importance of the flow - habitat relationship, but none of the flow

Colorado Water Conservation Board
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning