BOARD01617

• Board Meeting Date: 5/19/2003
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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reached with the NPS on a settlement of this reserved right. We will be discussing with the Board how
to implement that settlement during the May meeting.

USF&WS Flow Recommendations for the Gunnison River: Staff continues to workwith the Upper
Colorado River Recovery Program on objections raised to the proposed flow recommendations for the
Gunnison River. The recommendations have been revised several tin1es by the principal investigator
in response to comments from program participants. Our chief concerns remain water availability,
flood potential, and the need for the large peaks recommended given that they are not well supported
by the channel morphology research. We have reviewed the latest draft, which will be discussed in a
conference call on May 14th. Our concerns still remain, however, we have very positive discussions
with the recovery program and our hopeful that a resolution can be reached on this matter in fue near
future. If opposition remains, the recommendations will be referred to fue Management Committee
for farther action. Reclamation has indicated that they anticipate beginning an EIS process on Aspinall
Unit operations to in1plement the flow recommendations or a reasonable alternative to them late in FY
2003.

Redlands Call Reduction El:tended: On April 14 the Colorado River Water Conservation District
and the Redlands Water and Power Authority agreed to extend a reduction of the Redland's senior
water rights through the end of April. The District will compensate Redlands for lost revenues. The
agreement allows water to be stored in reservoirs throughout the basin as reservoir storage levels are
currently very low.

Redlands Diversion Fish Screen: The Bureau of Reclamation, on behalf ofthe Upper Colorado River
Endangered Fish Recovery Program, is proposing to construct a fish screen in the Redlands Power
Canal to prevent entrainment of native and endangered fish. In 1996, a fish ladder around the
Redlands Diversion Dam was constructed which has been used by over 36,000 native fish, including
47 Pikeminnow and 5 razorback suckers. Reclamation is preparing an Environmental Assessment
under NEP A and is seeking to identifY issues and concerns about fue proposed project. Comments are
due May 19.

GMUG Pathfinder Instream Flow Project: The GMUG Pathfmder Steering Committee has
developed a draft work product that provides guidance for protecting instream flows on lands within
the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests. The Steering Committ!'le will be
presenting this draft work product at a series of upcoming public meetings to solicit additional
comments. Comments received at these public meetings will be considered in development of the
Steering Committee's fmal recommendation to fue U.S. Forest Service. The first public meeting is
scheduled for May 15th at the Gunnison County Fairgrounds. The Steering Committee will also be
making a presentation to the Colorado Water Conservation Board at its meeting in Meeker on May
19th. Information about the upcoming meetings can be found on the CWCB website at
www.cwcb.state.co.us.

GMUG Willow Creek Study: The CWCB staff is continuing to work with the Colorado Division of
Wildlife and United States Forest Service personnel to collect hydraulic and hydrologic data for an
instrearn flow study on West Willow Creek. The study began as a part of the GMUG Pathfinder
process to answer questions about the differences between the R2CROSS and the IFIM/PHABSIM
instrearn flow quantification methodologies. Study participants will attempt to collect a high flow data
set as soon snowmelt allows access to the study site. The high flow data set is required to properly
calibrate the IFIM/PHABSlM methodology.

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