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<br />- 2- <br /> <br />Natural Environment Studies <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the United <br />States Forest Service (USFS) and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have <br />conducted field surveys of the natural environment resources on these streams and have found <br />natural environments that can be preserved. To quantify the resources and to evaluate instream flow <br />and natural lake level requirements, the CWCB, CDOW, BLM, USFS and USFWS have collected <br />biologic and hydraulic data that were analyzed by the Board staff. Based on the results of these <br />analyses, the CWCB staff prepared recommendations of the amount of water necessary to preserve <br />the natural environment to a reasonable degree for each of the streams listed on the attached <br />Tabulations ofInstream Flow and Natural Lake Level Recommendations. <br /> <br />Water Availability Studies <br /> <br />The CWCB staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for the streams listed. To <br />determine the amount of water physically available for the Board's appropriations, the staff analyzed <br />available USGS gage records, available streamflow models, and/or utilized appropriate standard <br />methods to develop a hydrograph of mean or median monthly flows for each stream flow <br />recommendation. Staff also relied upon the flow measurements made as part of the field survey as <br />an indicator of the amount of water physically available in each stream; analyzed the water rights <br />tabulation for each stream; and consulted with the Division Engineer's Office to identify any <br />potential water availability problems. Based upon its analyses, Staff has determined that water is <br />available for appropriation on each stream and lake to preserve the natural environment to a . <br />reasonable degree without limiting or foreclosing the exercise of valid existing rights. <br /> <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATION <br /> <br />For each stream listed on the attached Tabulations of In stream Flow and Natural Lake Level <br />Recommendations, the staff recommends that the Board declare its intent to appropriate in <br />accordance with Instream Flow Rule 5.d as follows: <br /> <br />5.d Board's Intent to Appropriate. Notice of the Board's potential action to declare its intent to <br />appropriate shall be given in the January Board meeting agenda and the Board will take public <br />comment regarding its intent to appropriate at the January meeting. <br /> <br />(I) After reviewing Staffs ISF recommendations for proposed ISF appropriations, the Board <br />may declare its intent to appropriate specific ISF water rights. At that time, the Board shall <br />direct the Staff to publicly notice the Board's declaration of its intent to appropriate. <br /> <br />(2) After the Board declares it's intent to appropriate, notice shall be published in a mailing to <br />the ISF Subscription Mailing Lists for the relevant water divisions and shall include: <br /> <br />(a) <br /> <br />A Description of the appropriation (e.g. stream reach, lake location, amounts, <br />etc.); <br />Availability (time and place) forreview of Summary Reports and Investigations <br />Files for each recommendation; and, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />(b) <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />