BOARD02433

• Board Meeting Date: 3/22/2005
• Description: WSP Section - Aspinall EIS Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

. Colorado Water Conservation Board

Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

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MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

To:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Russell George
Executive Director

From:

Randy Seaholm
Michelle Garrison

Rod Kuharich
eWeB Director

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

Date:

March 10,2005

Re:

Agenda Item 32, March 22 - 23, 2005 Meeting -- Water Supply Protection Section
Aspinall EIS Update

Introduction

. On January 21,2004 the U.S. Bureau ofRec1amation (USBR) began an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) process to consider re-operation of the Aspinall Unit to attempt to meet the 2003 U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) flow recommendations for the Gunnison River at Whitewater or a
reasonable alternative thereto. Upon completion of the EIS the USBR will forward the selected
alternative to the USFWS for Section 7 Consultation pursuant to the Endangered Species Act.

As stated in the Federal Register (Vol. 69, No. 13, January 21, 2004), "the purpose of Reclamation's
proposed action is to operate the Aspinall Unit to avoid jeopardy to endangered species while
maintaining the congressionally authorized Unit purposes."

Cooperating agencies in this BIS process include:
. Colorado Department of Natural Resources (EDO, CWCB, CDOW, and CDWR),
. Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD),
. Platte River Power Authority (pRP A),
. Southwestern Water Conservancy District (SWWCD),
. Western Area Power Administration (W AP A),
. National Park Service (NPS), and
. US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Cooperating agencies have met with the USBR regularly since November 2004 to discuss topics
including the following:

.

. Roles of/ead agency and cooperating agencies
. Summary of Notice of Intent and purpose and need

Colorado W~ter Conservation Board
Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning