BOARD02263

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: ISF Section - Instream Flow Appropriations - Memo and Tabulations for Water Divisions 2 and 4
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

- 2-

Natural Environment Studies

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States
Forest Service (USFS) have conducted field surveys of the natural environment resources on these
streams and have found natural environments that can be preserved. To quantifY the resources and
to evaluate instream flow and natural lake level requirements, the CWCB, CDOW, BLM and USFS
have collected biologic and hydraulic data that were analyzed by the Board staff. Based on the
results of these analyses, the CWCB staff prepared recommendations of the amount of water
necessary to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree for each of the streams listed
on the attached Tabulations ofInstream Flow and Natural Lake Level Recommendations.

Water Availability Studies

The CWCB staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for the streams listed. 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 stream flow
recommendation. 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 and lake to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree
without limiting or foreclosing the exercise of valid existing rights.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

For each stream listed on the attached Tabulations of Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level
Recommendations, the staff recommends that the Board proceed as provided in Instream Flow Rule
5.d:

5.d Board's Intent to AODTooriate. Notice ofthe 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.

(1) After reviewing Staff's ISF recommendations for proposed ISF appropriations, 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's declaration of its intent to appropriate.

(2) After the Board declares it's intent to appropriate, notice shall be published in a mailing to
the ISF Subscription Mailing Lists for the relevant water divisions and shall include:

(a) A Description of the appropriation (e.g. stream reach, lake location, amounts,
etc.);
(b) A vailability (time and place) for review of Summary Reports and Investigations
Files for each recommendation; and,
(c) Summary identification of any data, exhibits, testimony or other information in
addition to the Summary Reports and Investigations Files supporting the
appropriation.
Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning