BOARD01421

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2005
• Description: WSP Section - Aspinall EIS - No Action Alternative Discussion
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

(

80fl8
o Operate to honor April 2003 Black Canyon Federal Water Right
settlement agreement in place (300 cfs Federal reserved right, state
in stream flow spring right).2

~,

.

o A voidance of Gunnison Gorge flow decreases that could damage redds
after October 15th for brown trout recruitment when practical. Avoidance
of flow decreases after April 15th for rainbow trout spawning when
practical. Flow decreases can lead to drying or ice damage to eggs.

o Consistent with the authorized purposes of the Aspinall Unit,
assist in meeting a target of Release Vlater 3nd de!iW1r 100 cfs to
Redlands fish ladder (June-September) (migralion flows of 300 cfs and 40
cfs for Redlands fish screen not included because no contract will be in
place). It should be recognized that adequate flows to operate the fish
screen and provide adequate migration flows will be present much of the
time, even in the absence of specific water deliveries.

o Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoir daily fluctuations limited by
landslide criteria. At Crystal, dry season (July-February) drawdown
limited to 10 feet in 24 hours and 15 feet in 72 hours. In wet season
(March-June), Crystal drawdown limited to 5 feet in 24 hours and 20 feet
per week. At Morrow Point, the reservoir drawdown rate is limited to a
maximum of3 feet per day at reservoir elevations below 7144 feet. For
reservoir elevations above 7144, iflhe reservoir drawdown rate is
expected to be greater than 3 feet per day, then visual observations should
be made of Landslide A.

.

. Existing long-term water and power contracts from the Unit will be honored.

. Continue to meet power system requirements of the North American Electrical
Reliability Council and lhe Western Electricity Coordinating Council such as
generation control, voltage regulation, black start capability, and reserves.

. The Unit would be operated subject to Colorado water laws and the Law of the
River.

. Existing valid private and public water storage and evaporation, depletions,
diversions, and uses according to water rights under the state priority syslem
in the Gunnison Basin 9GGurring.

2 Excerpts from agreement: "A federal reserved water right of 300 cfs or natural flow, whichever is less,
with a 1933 priority date. Such federal water right will satisfy the CWCB's existing instream flow
decree.. .An instream flow water right under Colorado law with a 2003 priority date. Beginning with each
year's April I forecast from the Colorado River.River Forecast Center, if Blue Mesa is projected to fill and
spi1\ by July 3\, water beyond that which satisfies present and future obligations of the authorized purposes
of the Aspinall Unit, as specified in the Colorado River Storage Project Act, 43 U.S.C. 620 el seq., as
amended through the date of this agreement, shall be held by the CWCB for decreed instream flow
purposes with a 2003 priority date.

.

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning