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<br />,- <br /> <br />Water Availability Studies <br />The CWCB Staff has conducted an evaluation of water availability for these streams. To <br />determine the amount of water physically available for the Board's appropriations, Staff <br />analyzed available USGS gage records, available streamflow models, and/or utilized <br />appropriate standard methods to develop a hydrograph of mean or median monthly flows <br />for each recommendation. Staff also relied upon the flow measurements made as part of <br />the field survey as an indicator of the amount of water physically available in each <br />stream. Staff also analyzed the water rights tabulation for each stream and consulted with <br />the Division Engineer's Office to identify any potential water availability problems. <br />Based upon its analysis, Staff has determined that water is available for appropriation on <br />each stream to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree without limiting <br />or foreclosing the exercise of valid existing rights. <br /> <br />Amendments to the Instream Flow Recommendations <br />As mentioned above, Staff consults with the Division Engineers to discuss water <br />availability for each proposed instream flow appropriation. The instream flow <br />recommendations that were presented to the Board at the January 2005 meeting were <br />based upon meetings with the Water Division 4 Engineer's Office in October 2004. <br />Since this time, the Division Engineer has contacted Staff and recommended <br />modifications to the recommendations for several of the streams located on the <br />Uncompahgre Plateau. Specifically, the Division Engineer suggested that a shorter <br />runoff period was more typical for the following streams: Dry Creek, East Fork Dry <br />Creek, West Fork Dry Creek, Escalante Creek, East Fork Escalante Creek and Middle <br />Fork Escalante Creek. The CWCB, BLM and the USFS Staffs agree that these <br />modifications will more accurately reflect the hydrologic conditions for these particular <br />streams. The attached table provides a list of the streams with the modified flow amounts <br />and/or time periods. <br /> <br />RELEVANT INSTREAM FLOW RULES <br />For each stream listed in the attached list of instream flow recommendations, the staff <br />recommends that the Board proceed as provided in Instream Flow Rules 5f., 5h. and 5i.: <br /> <br />Sf. Date of Appropriation. The Board may select an appropriation date that may be no <br />earlier than the date the Board declares its intent to appropriate. The Board may declare <br />its intent to appropriate when it concludes that it has received sufficient information that <br />reasonably supports the findings required in Rule 5i. <br /> <br />5h. Final Board Action on an ISF Recommendation. The Board may take final action on <br />any uncontested Staff Recommendation( s) at the May Board meeting or any Board <br />meeting thereafter. If a Notice to Contest has been filed, the Board shall proceed under <br />Rule 5j-5q. <br /> <br />5i. ReQuired Findings. Before initiating a water right filing to confirm its appropriation, <br />the Board must make the following determinations: <br />