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1556 river flows or reservoir levels in the uppet Ark:u1sas River basin to these water tesource values . provide infotmation about the hydrologic tegimes seen historically and at the present time in the river corridor and ar reservoir oper~ ated bv the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation . pro,'ide information about the legal and insti- tutional framework that guides the manage- ment of the Arkansas Rivet and major teser- voirs within the watershed This assessment is the ditect tesult of a memoran- dum of understanding (MOU) signed by the BL:VI, Bureau of Reclamation', The Fotest Service and the Colorado Department of Natutal Resoutces in 1992, These agencies have been cooperating and collabororing in the development of lIlnual How recommendations that help guide Reclamation's operations of the three Fryingpan- Arkansas Project teservoirs. This assessment report will not be a decision document. However, it may be: u.sed to identity opportunities and to support furure management decisions and strategies of appropriate: agencies and institutions. Any future management: actions supported by this report will require compliance with Federal (e,g. National Environmental Ptotection Act) and Stare laws, The :VIOU stared that the primary objective of the JSsessment would be to "provide useful infot- marion about resource needs. water use con- straints, and management opportunities for plan' ners and decision makers", Specific objectives of the Assessment that Wete outlined in the MOU included: (l) Develop an understanding of the hydrology and geomotphology of the river in conjunc- tion with physical warer management (i.e., Streamflow, water smrage, and rele:1SC: opera- tions of the reservoirs), (2) Develop an understanding of the telation- ships between strc::lI11 flows. reservoir levels. lIld the tesoutce values they affect. The tesource values to be consideted include: fish and wildlife habitat; tecreational boating; fishing tecreauon; water qualiry; riparian habitar; and aesthetics. (3) Analyze legal and instirurional availabiliry of water fOt management purposes. (4) Identify and explain opportUniries for meet- ing the needs of warer dependent resources in me river and me reservoirs. D. Existing Land and Water Management Framework This assessment atrempts ro explain the legal and administracive framework governing the A..rkansas River, lorersrate compacts, federal laws. Colorado water law, numerous plans. and insrirutional arrangements govern the management of reservoir oper:uions. water allocation, and natural resources in or adjacenr to the Arkansas River. The Constirurion of the Srate of Colorado recognizes the doctrine of priot appropriation as the princi- ple means of allocating rhe L1sage of the waters of the Srare, As a result, the State engineer regulares numerous agricultural, municipal, industrial, and ocher water rights. The Arkansas River includes borh native warer originating within rhe basin and warer imported from the West Slope (Colorado River Basin) inro the basin by the Bureau of Reclamarion' s Fryingpan-Arkansas Projecr and several other non-Federal diversion projects, Therefore. both the Colorado Rivet Compact and the ArbnsJS River Compact wct management of the Arkansas River. The operation of the trans-basin diversion projects and several reservoirs located in the basin directly affectS ,'\rkansas River Rows. It is unlikely thar any surface waret remains avail- able for appropriation in the Arkansas River Basin at this time. Water management in me upper Arkansas River Basin is complex and highly tegu- lared under the authoriry of the Srate Engineer (CRS 37,92-301 and SOl et. seq,). There may be opportunities, however, for maintaining and 2