BOARD02159

• Board Meeting Date: 9/13/2005
• Description: ISF Section - Aspinall Unit Operations EIS
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

recommendations. The unused portion shall not be relied on as part of any
long-term solution that seeks to provide flows for flow recommendations.

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-Future depletions occurring in the basin. For purposes ofthe Erg ami tile No
Action alternative, assume that projected water uses with completed ESA and
NEP A compliance would occur during the life of the project. This would include
full Dallas Creek depletions and also would include existing contracts with the
Upper Gunnison District and private water users for Blue Mesa water sales.
Information developed for tbe State Water Supply Initiative will also be
used-for example, this study includes a projection of additional future
depletions of 14,900 af in the basin by 2030. (Note: details will be worked out
on any overlap in the 14,900 af number and the Dallas Creek depletions)

"Remaining water-remaining project yield" (not precisely known, but up to
approximately 300,000 af, including subordination water and existing water
sales) will be modeled as being released and flowing g6iftg downstream, while
recognizing that this additional water very well eM ami ?iill may be developed in
the future subject to and consistent with the Unit's authorized pnrposes and
other applicable laws, and that this development will not be precluded by the
proposed action. The State of Colorado has significant consumptive use
depletions g@.:~rallnuHlnHI thtHiSafui asr€l feet fir .,.:atef remaining for use under
the Colorado River Compact of 1922 and the Upper Colorado River Basin
Compact and a portion of this would logically and legally come from the
Gunnison Basin.4

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It is recognized that one of the purposes of the Aspinall Unit is ". ..storing water
for beneficial consumptive use, making it possible for the States ofthe Upper
Basin to utilize, consistently with the provisions of the Colorado River Compact,
the apportionments made to and among them in the Colorado River Compact and
the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact, respectively... ".

When action alternatives are developed, the "remaining W!\t@fproject yield"
remains water of the Colorado River System and will continue to go
downstream on an interim basis, until such 81lJlJllie8 waters are developed
pursuant to the Colorado River and Upper Colorado River Basin Compacts, and
thus on an interim basis will be part of the flow ntilized to assisting in meeting
flow recommendations5 In the narrative it will state that an average useable
water yield exists from Blue Mesa Reservoir, possibly up to 300,000 af including
Upper Gunnison subordination. The unused portion shall not be relied on as

4 CRWCD has pointed out that the Unit yield may be needed to meet the Colorado River Compact.
This issue, along with NEP A and ESA compliance, would be addressed when major new depletions
are considered. However, any contract to use Unit yield will be subject to curtailment if necessary in
order for the Aspinall Unit to meet its authorized purpose of releasing project water to allow the
Upper Basin States to meet their compact obligations, if it is determined by the Upper Colorado
River Commission that curtailment of uses in Colorado is required.
5 It is recognized that some future uses could occur downstream of the Unit and therefore releases
could serve dual purposes of fish recovery aud consumptive beneficial uses.

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