WSP04713 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

, 3 a. Each year after completion of the May 1 snowmelt runoff forecast, an evaluation will be made to estimate the releases required for contractual requirements as described in the EIS (e.g., Denver Water Board lease, Middl e Park Water Conservancy Di strict, and the other West Slope water users in accordance with River District and Conservancy District statutes), wetlands mitigation requirements, and reservoir evaporation and other losses. If that amount of release and loss will provide an October 15 target storage of 50,000 acre-feet or more, the River District will notify the Service, by May 20 of each year, of the estimated amount of water available to provide for release to the 15-mile reach. Using this estimate, the Service will notify the River District, by June 15, of the pattern of delivery of the available water to the 15-mile reach. Within 15 days (or sooner if possible) after a downst~ river call has been placed on the river by the Division Engineer, such that Muddy Creek and Green Mountain Reservoirs may no longer store water, the River District will determine the actual amount of water available using the actual contracted demands and reservoir losses, applying the same target of 50,000 acre-feet on October 15. Based upon this calculation, the Service will notify the River District as soon as possible of any Changes to the pattern of water del ivery to the 15-aile reach. b. The requested flow release to the IS-mile reach will be made up to a total calendar year release of 3,000 acre-feet during the period from July 15 to October 15, as requested by the Service. Such flow release shall not exceed 100 cfs. Releases will be measured at the outlet works of ~ddy Creek.. c. During the period of this MOU, the availability of water for any other noncontractual uses, as identified in the EIS (such as releases for the fiShery in Muddy Creek or recreation flows in the Colorado River), wi 11 be subordinate to the availability of water for the uses identified in l.a. and 1.b. above. 2. In detenninillg the amount of water available for flow release to the 15-mile reach, the River District simulated the hydrologic conditions of the 1953-1982 period. If similar runoff conditions were repeated, the 3,000 acre-foot release would be available in 3 out of 5 years as a long- term average. It is understood that there may be shorter periods when this long-term average release will not be achieved. The following criteria will determine the similarity of runoff periods as a basis for evaluating whether the long-term average releases have been achieved.