WSP02990

• File Number: 8240.300.02
• Description: San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program - Recovery Plans & Information
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 10/26/1994
• Title: Recovery Programs - Upper Colorado River Basin - San Juan River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Technical Studies

Regarding the necessary hydrologic studies on the physical and legal water availability, the
Board staff developed a Plan of Study which closely follows the tasks and schedules for water-
related activities included in the RIPRAP. Prior to the Board proceeding with a Preliminary or
Final Notice of instream flow recommendations, the Board staff wiII conduct a range of technical
studies as required by the Policy. These include:

1. Physical Water Availability Study
II. Estimating "Reasonably Foreseeable Development Water Needs"
III. Compact Analysis and Future Development Projection Study based on:
a) Best available hydrology and consumptive use data;
b) Colorado River and Upper Colorado River Basin Compacts;
c) Generous long-term projections of future water development; and
d) Other information.
IV. Determination of Paragraph 3 and 4 waters

These studies and analyses will be conducted by consultants or the Board staff in consultation
with the Board, the Board's Endangered Fish Subcommittee, the Colorado River Policy Advisory
Council, the Service, members of the Recovery Program and other interested parties. The
proposed plan of study includes physical water availability and compact studies for not only the
Yampa River/Little Snake River/White River and the Colorado River/Gunnison River, but also
for the Dolores and San Juan Rivers. Even though flow recommendations are not expected to
be made by the Service for the Dolores River in the near future, and the San Juan River and its
tributaries are subject to a separate "Recovery" agreement, they were included in this proposed
plan of study because compact issues are basin wide and not river specific.

The studies and analyses will include a comprehensive review of available gaging station records
for selected stream reaches, statistical analysis of the selected gaging station records and
presentation of flow data on a daily, monthly and annual basis in graphical and tabular form in
a final report. A review of past hydrologic studies, if any, on specific river basins will be done
to avoid duplication of work.

Physical Water Availability Analysis

Water availability analyses wiII be conducted for each of the following stream reaches:

1. Yampa River
a) Above Little Snake River to Craig, CO.
b) Below Little Snake River to Green River confluence.
II. Little Snake River
a) Lily, CO to the confluence of the Little Snake River and the Yampa River.
III. White River
a) Rangley, CO to the Colorado-Utah Stale line,
IV. Colorado River
a) Rifle - Grand Valley Diversion Dam

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