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<br /> <br />:.- 05/0)l.f2003 16: 07 FAX 2022084684 <br />,. <br /> <br />A/S FISH/WILDLIFE/PARK <br /> <br />@003 <br /> <br />of May, June and July. Keeping our request to these three rnonths is supported by the <br />'Scientific studies and analysis undertaken by the National Park Service, which are <br />referenced it1 the attached supporting document (Attachment B). Moreover, by tailoring <br />our request to only these three months, we are maintaining the status quo in the Gunnison <br />River Basin while also allowing any runoff that occurs outside of the spring runoffperiod <br />to be available for future appropriation (our records show that in 1984, the wettest year <br />on record, an additional 1,000,000+ acre-feet of runoff entered the Basin outside of the <br />Spring runoff period). <br /> <br />oUr request, therefore, is that the CWCB initiate a notice to appropriate the rnaximum <br />volume of water available for appropriation at the upstream boundary ofthe Black <br />Canyon of the Gunnison National Park for the months of May through July as set forth in <br />Attachment A, which volume is necessary to achieve the shoulder flows and low, <br />medium, aI).d high peak flows set forth in the table that is included in our Agreernent of ' , <br />April 2, 2003. Reclamation model runs in Attachment A, using historical data and <br />current operating conditions, establish that there is sufficient water available at the head <br />of,the Park to support these flows. We believe that this seasonal volume is the minirnum <br />amount necessary to protect the natural environment of Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Park to a reasonable degree as has been determined by the analysis contained in <br />Attachment B. We are aware of your concern about the CWCB appropriating water in <br />amounts that constitute a "flood flow." While we do not interpret the right to ever be <br />able to "callout" any flood control operations conducted by Reclamation at the Aspinall <br />Unit, we also ask that the CWCB right expressly recognize the senior water right of the <br />Aspinall Unit for:flood control purposes to further alleviate your concern. This express <br />provision confirms "that the CWCB instream flow water right will not interfere with <br />Reclamation operations for flood control purposes. Thus, any high flows that reach the <br />park will not'~cmrr because of the instream flow appropriation, but instead will result <br />from 'Reclamation's managemenfo:(forecasted spill conditions. <br />~..\, ,.. <br />.,'r. <br />," VI e:are 'also awar~ qf yout concern about Aspinall Unit operations during the wetter years <br />, when bypass~and/or:,spill con~ti6ns aj-e forecast and the CWCB instream flow right <br />would be ,lal'ge. ~ExiieriC\lce has 'demonstrated that spill conditions can be managed such <br />thatfleoding is minimized.and peak flows thr,ough the park can still be reasonably <br />expecte.i\. ' ' " <br />.~ <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />'. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />/~~ ~'- <br /> <br />Craig Manson " ' <br />Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks <br /> <br />Enclosures <br />