BOARD01711

• Board Meeting Date: 5/21/2001
• Description: WSP Section - Gunnison River Basin Issues
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLOMDO

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Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Slreet, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone, [phone]
FAX, [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

8/UOwens
Covernor

Greg:E.Walcher
Executive Director

Rod Kuharfch
eWell DJrector

Dan McAulJffe
Deputy DilectOI

MEMORANDUM

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

FROM:

Randy Seaholm, Chief, Water Supply Protection ~
May 14,2001

DATE:

RE:

Agenda Item No. 21(e) . Gunnison River Basin Issues

Introduction

The purpose of this memorandum is to briefly update Board members on 4 issues dealing
with the Gunnison River Basin,

Black Canvon of the Gunnison National Park Reserved Water Ril!ht

The National Park Service (NPS) recently filed in Water Court, Division 4, a
quantification application to make absolute a conditional instream flow water right
decreed in case number W.437 on March 6, 1978. This decree was upheld in USA v
Denver (79SA99 and 79SAIOO) on November 29, 1982, The current application is
asking for the following:
· Priority Date of March 2, 1933 (As per decree in W-437)
· Base flows July 2S - May 1 of300 cfs
· "Shoulder" flows, May 1 through July 25, detennined on a yearly basis by
equation in the application based on inflow to Blue Mesa
· Peak flows, for one day between May 1 through June 30, detennined on a
yearly basis by equation in the application based on inflow to Blue Mesa
· Restricted to certain flow rate changes during the runoff period,
· Uses previously decreed: "Insure the continued nutrition, growth,
conservation and reproduction of those species of fish which iI1habited sllch
waters on applicable reservation dates, or those species of fish which are
thereafter introduced and to attain and preserve the recreational, scenic and
aesthetic conditions existing on the applicable reservation dates or to preserve
those conditions which are thereafter caused to exist."
· Location - See basin map, Figure 1,
NPS argues that the baseflow of 300 cfs is Ilecessary to protect the fishery and that the
shoulder flows ramping upto the peak and the peak flow are necessary to preserve the

Flood Protection. Water PlOject PI'lnning and Financing. Stleam .1nd Lake Protection
W.lter Supply Protection. Con!iervation Planning