BOARD02415

• Board Meeting Date: 3/20/2000
• Description: Directors' Reports
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

CRDSS Irrigated Acreage Update: Staff has had several meetings with Reclamation to
discuss how to update the irrigated acreage database. As a result of these meetings we will do a
pilot project on portions of the Grand Valley to develop the process and work out most of the .
problems prior to initiating the full-scale update. The pilot project should be completed by July
1.

Lower Colorado River Basin Water Use Report: As of Feb. 17 the forecasted
consumptive use of water in the Lower Colorado River Basin for calendar year 2000 is projected
to be as follows:
Arizona
California
Nevada
Subtotal
Unmeasured Returns

2,666,751
5,221,960
314,521
8,203,232
(242,461 )

States Total
Mexican Treaty
Excess of Treaty
Minute 242 Bypass
Total LB & Mexico

7,960,771
1,700,000
o
o
9,660,771

Upper Basin Runoff Forecast: As of Mar. 2 projected water year 2000 runoff has
improved considerably but is still shaping up to be a below average year. Basin snow pack has
improved to 83 % of average. The April-July forecasted inflow into Lake Powell is 5.8 MAF or
75% of average. If this forecast holds or declines, the low steady state test flow release pattern
from Lake Powell recommended in the EIS will be made.

Gunnison River Basin Issues

Aspinall Unit Water Rights: In response to the 60,000 AF Subordination Agreement
EA staff sent a comment letter to Reclamation on Dec. 17 in support of moving ahead with the
Agreement. Arapaho County sent comments objecting to moving ahead with the agreement.
Reclamation continues to evaluate the EA comments and how it wants to proceed. We are
hopeful that Reclamation will issue a FONSI on the EA and sign the agreement.

Staff also sent a letter to Reclamation requesting that it extend the 5-year MOA to deliver
Aspinall Water to the Redlands Fish Ladder and the river reach between the Ladder and
Colorado River confluence. The current 5-year MOA expires in August, 2000 and it is clear that
consultation on the Aspinall Unit and quantification of the reserved rights for the Black Canyon
of Gunnison National Monument (now our newest National Park) will not be completed before
the MOA expires. No other changes to the agreement are proposed.

Staff has also received a copy of the USFWS synthesis report containing flow
recommendations for the Gunnison River. This report is undergoing peer review and should be
available in late April.

Union Park: On Mar. 1 the State Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Arapaho
County's Union Park water availability case. A decision is not expected until sometime after
Aug. 1.

Arapahoe County and the Town of Parker filed application for a preliminary FERC
permit on Apr. 7, 1997 for their Upper Gunnison River Basin Project (Union Park). The High
Country Citizens Alliance, Town of Crested Butte and Gunnison County were granted motions
to intervene in the proceedings effective Jan. 27, 2000.

12

.

.