BOARD01883

• Board Meeting Date: 7/28/2003
• Description: Flood Section - Request for Approval of Policy Regarding RICD's
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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12. CWCB Instream Flow Water Riqhts
. The proposed RICD water right must (as required by Statute) be evaluated to
determine whether the RICD would impact decreed instream flow water rights. The
CWCB's Stream and Lake Protection section will review an RICD to ensure that the
RICD does not injure any decreed instream flow water right.

13. Appropriate Stream Reach for an RICD
The proposed RICD water right must (as required by Statute) be evaluated to
determine whether the RICD is for an appropriate stream reach. Factors that influence
the quality of recreational experience for a whitewater course include site and river
related features other than river flow. These factors typically include:
. Drop or fall at the site over the boatable range of flows.
. Length of the potential boating course or RICD
. Available width for the boating course or RICD
. Access to the put-in and take-out at the site
. Access at the site related to observation
. Access related to safety
. Water quality
. Design of the venue

In order for the CWCB to assess the appropriateness of a proposed RICD stream reach,
the following criteria will also be used.

Performance Index:
The Performance Index is a reasonable formula to evaluate whitewater or boating
course potential. The Performance Index is a product of the percentage slope and the
discharge for the RICD in question:

PI=((Hydraulic Drop/Length) x discharge) x 100

Where:
The variables "head" and "length" are measured in the same units, and "discharge" is
measured in cubic feet per second (cfs).

The Performance Index has several advantages as it can determine the potential of an
undeveloped site and a developed site on an equal basis. It does not rely on subjective
judgments regarding the average conveyance width.

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