BOARD01551

• Board Meeting Date: 9/21/1998
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Yampa Operation and Management Plan - Status Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
721 Centennial Building
, 313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

STATE OF COLORI\DO

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Roy Romer
Governor

MEMORANDUM

J~mes s. lochhe(ld
Exe(.'1J[ive Director; DNR
OilriesC. Lile,P.E.
Director, eWeB
Peter H. EVilns
Acting Director, (V\..CB

TO:

Members, CWCB

FROM:

Randy Seaholm
Greg Espegren

DATE:

September 15, 1998

SUBJECT:

Agenda Item 20k; Yampa Operation and Management Plan - Status Report

Background
Development of a Yampa River Operation and Management Plan (the "Yampa Plan") is a project
initiated under the Recovery Program for the Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin.
The goals of the Y ampa Plan are to provide water for existing and future human needs in the Yampa
River basin, to provide and protect the instream flows and habitat needed to maintain and recover
. the endangered fishes, and to protect other native fish and wildlife resources in the Yampa River
Basin.

As a participant in the development of the Yampa Plan, the CWCB has been asked to enter into a
Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Colorado
River Water Conservation District, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and Colorado
Division of Wildlife.

Discussion
The purpose of the proposed MOA is to outline the process and identify responsibilities for the
development of the Plan and related NEPA compliance. The proposed MOA would require the
CWCB to advise the USFWS on State issues related to water resources development and the "Law
of the Colorado River". It would also require the CWCB to provide technical assistance to the
planning process utilizing the State's Colorado River Decision Support System as outlined in a Scope
of Work approved by the Recovery Program.

The staff believes that these responsibilities are consistent with the CWCB's previous commitments
to the USFWS under the September 21, 1993, MOA regarding Enforcement and Protection of Water
Rights. Staff also believes that the September 21, 1993, MOA vested the CWCB Director with the
authority to enter into the curren\ly proposed Yampa Plan MOA.

Staff Recommendation
Staff requests no action from the Board at this time. However, the staff would welcome any
thoughts or comments that the Board may have regarding the CWCB's participation in the Yampa
Plan or the proposed MOA.