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

COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY-1997 1998 ANNUAL PROJECf REPORT

Project No.: CAP 9 c

I. Title of Proposal:

IdentifY Hydrologic Modeling to Resolve Instream Flow and Water Development Issues
Yampa Operation and Management Plan

ll. Principal Investigators:

Randy Seaholm
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Shennan St., Room 721
Denver, CO 80203
Email:[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Ray Alvarado
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Shennan St., Room 721
Denver, CO 80203
Email:[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Greg Espegren
Colorado Water Conservation Board
1313 Shennan St., Room 721
Denver, CO 80203
Email:[e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

Ill. Project Summary:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has developed flow recommendations for an 82
mile segment of the Yampa River and the CWCB filed applications in Colorado Division 6
Water Court in December 1995 for two instream flow water rights in the Yampa River to
protect and recover endangered fish. These filings have lead to questions regarding fish
flows and future water development needs in the Yampa River Basin, and how to strike a
balance between the two. In seeking to strike such a balance the CWCB has left open and
invited negotiations on at least the following issues posed by its filings: 1) the
administration and augmentation of the base flow water right, 2) the distribution of the
Carve Out during the year and of the upper bounds on any increase of that Carve Out, 3)
the specification of the amount of the recovery flow right remaining after the carve out,
and 4) the criteria and procedure for modifying the recovery flow right to increase the
Carve Out. 5) Prepare the Yampa River Basin Water Resources Planning Model in the
Colorado River Decision Support System (Yampa River Model) to address the issues on
the instream flow filings that can be infonned by hydrologic modeling. Run the Yampa
River Model to consider any new recommendations for maintaining late season flows for
the endangered fish from the draft report for Task 1 of the umbrella scope of work, and to
compare two initial scenarios under which new water development under the carve out is
assumed to be senior to a base flow water right based on any new low flow
recommendations.

IV. Study Schedule: Begin September 1997 End May 1998

V. Relationship to RIPRAP:
Green River Action Plan: Yampa and Little Snake Rivers
I.A.4.a.(3). Yampa River Operation and Maintenance Plan

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