WSP00691

• File Number: 8142.700
• Description: Trinidad Project - Annual Operating Plans and Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 12/1/1996
• Author: US DoI BoR
• Title: Review of Operating Principles and Project Operations Final Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Operating Principles/Plan

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supply and without depleting useable water to downstream users in Colorado and Kansas. The

Colorado Water Conservation Board prepared and coordinated the review and approvals of the

amendment to the operating principles. The amendment was completed with Kansas' approval on

May 30, 1996. While the final amendment t6 the Operating Principles wasn't agreed to until after

the review period ended in 1994, this important recent change of the operating principles is

included in this report, since it will affect future storage authorizations.

The amendment increases the permanent fishery pool capacity from 4500 acre feet to

15967 acre feet and the total allocated capacity of Trinidad Reservoir to 125967 acre feet. The

State of Colorado is to acquire water for the initial filling and replacing evaporation and seepage

losses of the permanent fishery pool without interference to the District's water supply and usable

Stateline flows and without additional cost to the District and the United States for the Trinidad

Project. The approved source of water supply for the initial filling is limited to non-Arkansas

River Basin water delivered to Trinidad Reservoir either by direct imports from other river basins

or by exchange pursuant to the laws of Colorado. Other conditions for the initial filling and

replacement of evaporation and seepage include: (1) all water rights on the Purgatoire River

downstream of Trinidad Reservoir must be satisfied during the period of any exchange; (2) the

specific source of imported or native water, as limited by the operating principles as amended

must be verified by the Colorado State Engineer; (3) for each acre foot of water stored in

Trinidad Reservoir, one acre foot ofimported water or native water whose consumptive use has

been determined by final decree of Colorado Water Court must be delivered at the Las Animas

gauge on the Arkansas River; and (4) transit losses between the sources of supply and the Las

Animas gauge will be determined using the Livingston method or other suitable means to assure a

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