WSP00416

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Annual Report
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 12/22/1997
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: 1997 Annual Reports Package Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY-97 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT

PROJECT 1M

I. Project Title: Steamboat Lake Water Lease

II. Principal Investigator/Coordinator:

George Smith
P.O. Box 254B6
Denver, Colorado 80225
E-mail: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone], ext. 235
Fax: [phone]

III. Project Summary:

In 1992 the Recovery Program identified a need to secure storage water in the
Vampa River Basin for late summer flow augmentation. The planned lease of water
from Steamboat Lake will help stabilize late summer flows in the Vampa River to
maintain habitat for Colorado squawfish. The Program will lease water from the
Colorado Division of Parks (Parks), which owns Steamboat Lake. The lease will be
for 2.000 acre-feet a year, with a possibility of increasing to 3,300 acre-feet in the
future. A lease price of $16.00 per acre-foot has been negotiated for the 5-year
term of the lease. The lease was funded with 1988 annual funds.

IV. Study Schedule: Initial year 1997 final year 2001.

V. Relationship to RIPRAP: Vampa River Action Plan I.A.3.a.(1 ).(b)
Lease 2,000 acre-feet to augment later summer flows.

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VI. Accomplishments: During 1997. Parks secured a change of the water right decree
for Steamboat Lake, which recognized the use of water for instream flows. With
the change decree in place, the last obstacle to leasing water from Steamboat Lake
was surmounted, and a lease was executed April 17, 1997, between Parks, CWCB,
and the Service. The late summer flows in the Vampa were monitored closely and
remained high into September, never dropping below Service flow
recommendations. After consultation with researchers it was agreed to use
Steamboat Lake releases to support the low flow study by providing water for
research crews to maneuver through Vampa Canyon and collect data.

1997 release schedule:

9/13 (12:00 p.m.) to 9/20 (12:00 p.m.):
9/20 (12:00 p.m.) to 9/23 25 (10:00 a.m.):
9/30 (08:00 a.m.) to 10/01 (08:00 a.m.):

100 cfs
25 cfs
228 cfs
Total:

1 .400 AF
144 AF
456 AF
2,000 AF

VII. Recommendations: None

VIII. Project Status: Ongoing, the current lease runs from 1997 to 2001.

IX. FY-97 Budget:

Funds Provided:
Funds Expended:
Difference:

$32.000
$32,000
$ 0 All funds were expended in 1997.

. X. Status of Data Submission: Not applicable
XI. Signed: George Smith. December 10, 1997

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