Agenda Item 14: 2003 Gunnison River New Appropriation Recommendation

• Description: Gunnison River
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 5/5/2003
• Author: Dan Merriman, Randy Seaholm, Mark Uppendahl, Greg Espergren
• Title: Agenda Item 14: 2003 Gunnison River New Appropriation Recommendation
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

STATE OF COLORADO
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us
Bill Owens
Governor
Greg E. Walcher
Executive Director
Rod Kuharich
MEMORANDUM CWCB Director
Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director
To: Colorado Water Conservation Board Members
From: Dan Merriman
Randy Seaholm
Mark Uppendahl
Greg Espegren
Date: May 5, 2003
Re: Agenda Item 14, May 22 -23, 2003, Board Meeting —
Stream and Lake Protection — 2003 Gunnison River New Appropriation
Recommendation - Water Division 4 — Montrose & Delta Counties
GENERAL BACKGROUND
The stream segment being proposed is for the Gunnison River from below the Gunnison Diversion
Dam through the Black Canyon to the confluence with the North Fork of the Gunnison River. This
segment is located in Water Division 4 (Gunnison River Basin) in Montrose and Delta Counties.
Staff will present information regarding this segment to the Board and will recommend that the
Board declare its intent to appropriate. This instream flow recommendation partially implements the
April 2, 2003 Black Canyon Agreement between the State of Colorado and the Department of the
Interior, including the Bureau of Reclamation (BR) and National Park Service (NPS) (see attached
Agreement). The Agreement requires the CWCB to file a water court application for the above
segment in 2003. To accomplish this, the CWCB must deviate from the annual schedule set forth in
Rule 5.20. Rule 5.20 authorizes the CWCB to modify the annual schedule as it deems appropriate.
Staff recommends that the Board modify the schedule set forth in Rule 5.20, to the schedule set forth
in the attached "Proposed Schedule for the CWCB Appropriation of Gunnison ISF ". This proposed
expedited schedule will enable the CWCB to file a water rights application in 2003. Staff has
provided notice to the Division 4 Instream Flow Subscription Mailing List and posted the notice on
the Board's website. In addition, staff has held several meetings with Water Division 4 water users
on the NPS reserved water rights claim and the proposed Instream Flow Appropriation.
Flood Protection • Water Supply Planning and Finance • Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection • Conservation and Drought Planning