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<br />"':;') <br /> <br />....) <br />co <br />oc <br />;.I:'loo <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Gunnison Stu~ ,Inrtrealle'ws cwcE . 08/18/87 Page 3 <br />~ ;;7-1r:J..;fe.a ~ 37- 9 Z - /O;?.. <br />The ega1 status of thee decrees is somewhat uncertain since C.R.S. ~4Q <br />21-3' , that only the St te is empowered to appropriate water for instreall <br />flows. The deerees themselves argue that private entities are also entitled to <br />make such appropriations. Because these pri~ately held decrees have been <br />adjudieated and have not been formally challenged, it was determined that they <br />should be represented in the basin model as legitimate water rights. <br /> <br />Endanoered Specles Flows ~ <br /> <br />The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has proposed t at B~~ <br />storage releases be made to support a 2000 cfs minimum flow i the Colorado. <br />River at Westwater Canyon for endangered species. Releases Iso be made <br />froll Green Mountain and Ruedi reservoirs, where a total pool of 10,000 AF has <br />been set aside for this purpose. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />The Fish and Wildlife Service (USfWS) is currently studying this issue <br />using the HYDROS llodel to better define augmentation requirements. Release <br />schedules will then have to be negotiated with the USBR. The issue is <br />complicated by. the need to project future upper Colorado basin development, <br />e.g., by the Denver Water Board and Aurora, whieh could increase flow <br />augmentation requirements. <br /> <br />The time fraMe for completion of the USFWS study is long enough that firm <br />recomllendations will not be available in time for the Gunnison basin study. <br />However, preliminary data on flows in the Colorado River immediately upstreall of <br />the Gunnison confluence have been developed by the USfWS for the Biological <br />Opinion on Ruedi and Green Mountain water sales. These flows reflect projected <br />upper basin depletions and endangered species releases from the 10,000 AF <br />dedicated pool in these reservoi.rs. In the basin model, these projected flows <br />will be added to Gunnison River outflows and estimated return flows below Grand <br />Junction to determine flows at the state line. Whenever this resulting state <br />line flow is less than 2000 cfs, releases from Blue Mesa storage will be <br />triggered to bring the minillum up to 2000 cfs. <br /> <br />WBLA Inc. 1909 Broadway, #3 Boulder, Colorado 80302 <br />