BOARD02323

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2001
• Description: ISF Section - Instream Flow Appropriations
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Natural Environment Studies

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) has conducted field surveys of the fishery resources on this
stream and has found a natural environment that can be preserved, To quantifY the resources and to
evaluate instream flow requirements, the CWCB and CDOW 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 on the attached list ofInstream Flow Recommendations.

Water A vailabilitv Studies

The CWCB staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for this stream. To detennine 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 recommendation, The 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 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 in the attached List of ISF Recommendations, the staff recommends that the
Board proceed as directed in Instream Flow Rule 521:

5.21 Board's Intent to Appropriate. Notice of the 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 Januaty meeting.

52 I (A) After reviewing Staffs ISF recommendations, 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.

5,21(B)(I) After the Board declares it's intent to appropriate, notice shall be published in a
mailing to the ISF Subscription Mailing List for the relevant water division and shall state:
a. Description of Staff recommeIKIations (e.g, stream reach, amounts, etc.);

Flood Control and Floodplain Management -Larry Lang, Chief. Water Project Planning and Construction- Mike Serlet, Chief.
Instream Flows and Water Rights Investigations-Dan Merriman, Chief. Interstate Streams Investigations-Randy Seaholm, Chief .
Office ofConselVation Plannlng~Wllliam Stanton, Chief. Personnel and Budget -Susan Maul, Chief