BOARD01718

• Board Meeting Date: 1/26/2000
• Description: ISF Section - Instream Flow Appropriations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Natural Environment Studies

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have
conducted field surveys of the fishery resources on these streams and have found a natural
environment which can be preserved on each of these streams. To quantify the resources and to
evaluate instream flow requirements, the CWCI3, CDOW and BLM have collected biologic and
hydraulic data which were reviewed and/or analyzed by the Board staff. Based on the results of
these reviews/analyses, the CWCB staff prepllfed recommendations of the amount of water
necessary to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree for each of the streams on
the attached list of Instream Flow Recommendations.

Water Availabilitv Studies

The CWCB staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for these streams. To
determine the amount of water physically available for the Board's appropriations, the staff
analyzed available USGS gage records, available streamflow models, and/or utilized appropriate
standard methods to develop a hydrograph of mean or median monthly flows for each
recommendation. The staff also relied upon the flow measurements made as part of the field
survey as an indicator of the amount of water physically available in each stream and analyzed
the water rights tabulation for each stream and consulted with the Division Engineer's Office to
identify any potential water availability problems. Based upon its analysis, the staff has
determined that water is available for appropriation on each stream to preserve the natural
environment to a reasonable degree without limiting or foreclosing the exercise of valid existing
rights.

STAFF RECOMMENDA nON

For each stream listed in the attached List of ISF Recommendations, the staff recommends that
the Board proceed as provided in Instream Flow Rule 5.2 I :

5.21 Board's Intent to Appropriate. Notice of the Board's potential action to declare its intent to
appropriate shall be given in the January Board meeting agenda and the Board will take public
comment regarding its intent to appropriate at the January meeting.

5.21(A) After reviewing Staffs ISF recommendations, the Board may declare its intent to
appropriate specific ISF water rights. At that time the Board shall direct the Staff to publicly
notice the Board' 5 declaration of its intent to appropriate.

5.2I(B)(I) After the Board declares its intent to appropriate, notice shall be published in a
mailing to the ISF Subscription Mailing List for the relevant water division and shall state:
a. Description ofStaffrecommendations (e.g. stream reach, amounts, etc.);

Flood Control and Floodplain Management. Larry Lang, Chief. Water Project Planning and Construction- Mike SerJet, Chief.
Instream Flows and Water Rights Investigations-Dan Merriman, Chief. Interstate Streams Investigations-Randy Seaholm, Chief.
Office of Conservation Pla.nning-William Stanton, Chief- Personnel and Budget -Susan Maul, Chief