BOARD01677

• Board Meeting Date: 7/26/1999
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

2. Summer Winter Flow Amounts
· The current instream flow is for 1.5 cfs year round.
· It may be appropriate to consider separate summer and winter flow amounts.

3. Hydrologic DatalWater Availability
· There are no historic streamflow records on Miners Creek.
· Breckenridge has modeled streamflow records for Miners Creek based on aerial
apportionment from a gage on the Blue River known as the "Blue River at Blue River" gage.
It will be necessary to develop additional hydrologic models for comparison.
.. It may also be necessary to install stream-gaging devices in order to verify these hydrologic
models on Miners Creek.

4. FisheryINatural Environment Data
. Breckenridge has provided a fishery report that indicates there are no fish in the upper
reaches of Miners Creek. This information was based on visual observations and will require
verification utilizing ~ore reliable and intensive sampling techniques.
· CDOW fishery data from 1978 indicates that the lower reach of Miners Creek supports a
brook trout fishery. This information should be updated.

Conclusion: Current law requires that any modification of a decreed instream flow water
right included a significant public involvement process. In addition, any determination that the
Board makes regarding a modification of its decreed instream flow right on Miners Creek should
be based on the most up-to-date, and credible, scientific data available. Dan Merriman indicates
that the modification process could take a minimum of two years to collect sufficient data to
ensure that the Board's decision-making process is based on the best available scientific
information and to provide an adequate opportunity for public participation.

Modification of the decreed instream flow water right on Miners Creek will require
significant manpower commitments from the Board and our staff. We are currently working on
a variety of other issues that are of a high priority. Therefore, Dan and his team are attempting to
negotiate a stipulated settlement with Breckenridge, as indicated previously, and we will
schedule the initiation of the Miners Creek modification process as soon as practicable.

Colorado River Annual Operating Plan Report: On 1une 23 Randy Seaholm attended the
second of three planned cosultation meetings with the U.S. Bureau fReclamation in Las Vegas
to discuss and comment on the draft 2000 Annual Operating Plan (AOP) for Colorado River
Reservoirs. The final conultation metting is scheudled for August 10 in Las Vegas. It is
Reclamtion's recommendation is that the 2000 AOP contain the same determinations as the 1999
AOP. These determineatins include:

· Hoover dam would be operated under a "surplus" confdition.

· Any Lower Division state would be allowed to use water apportioned to but unused by other
lower division states

· Mexico would be allowed to schedule the delivery Of 1.7 million-acre feet.

· Storage in the Upper basin reservoirs is above the 602 a storage requirement, thus the
equalization of storage between Lakes Powell and Mead and the avoidance of spills will
govern releases from Glen Canyon.

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