|
<br />
<br />reet",
<br />
<br />.' i i.O r et A "
<br />'~:~ltiil
<br />
<br />",,,," ...'kZ.'...............
<br />. R:<~ ,<-:.-.- :",:,:,:,:,::::::-_':>:~>_-_"-:::::""""-':""-:-:-:-:.".:."."
<br />, .' l:oqk", ll~~t(o", iP."~1>l VIII. 4, Iulol'" o..t..b",. 2001
<br />
<br />Using technology to achieve ISF goals
<br />
<br />The Stream and Lake Protection Sec-
<br />tion staff is developing a comprehen-
<br />sive plan to advance the ISF Program
<br />thanks to new funding from a variety of
<br />sources. The plan consists offour compo-
<br />nents: Instream Flow needs assessment,
<br />web page upgrades, document imaging,
<br />and an Instream Flow Decision Support
<br />System. Below is an update of our progress
<br />in each category.
<br />
<br />ISFNeedsAssessment. This effort began
<br />over a year ago when the
<br />CWCB began seeking fund-
<br />ing for a statewide project to
<br />identity streams that would
<br />benefit from new or supple-
<br />mental instream flows. The
<br />needs assessment project is
<br />a GIS-based project that
<br />involves integrating several
<br />existing databases contain-
<br />ing hydrological, biological,
<br />and ecological information
<br />with a new GIS layer con-
<br />taining the instream flow
<br />and natural lake water
<br />rights. In June, the CWCB
<br />received funding from the
<br />Bureau of Reclamation,
<br />through its Technical Assis-
<br />tance to States Program, to
<br />digitize the ISF and natural
<br />lakes water rights and to
<br />create the new GIS layer. To
<br />date, the BaR has completed digitizing all
<br />of the natural lake water rights and has dig-
<br />itized nearly half ofinstream water rights.
<br />Other GIS layers will be consolidated and
<br />staffwill have a valuable tool for making
<br />~~~--l~ hn~~--l --l~~;~;~~~ _~"n_--l;~" .j:'"f-,,_~
<br />U~~~~ ~~~~~ ~~~.~.~u~ '~b~'~HLb L~~~'~
<br />instream flow appropriations and water
<br />right acquisitions.
<br />
<br />ISF Web Page. One of the most frequent
<br />requests we receive is for basic information
<br />about instream flow or natural lake water
<br />
<br />rights. To better respond to these public
<br />inquiries, we have just completed a major
<br />overhaul of our existing instream flow data-
<br />base to make it more Web and user
<br />friendly. We have also developed a new
<br />database which includes all natural lakes
<br />water rights. Interested parties can now
<br />search for this information through our
<br />WEB site at www.cwcb.state.co.us. The
<br />database can be accessed by clicking on the
<br />"Stream and Lake Protection" button in the
<br />left-hand margin, and then clicking the
<br />
<br />:\~~-+~~ ~'<~ ~
<br />.. $::,<<",,8:~ :;"':~:::::::::~~.'
<br />,~,,-~,,,,,~:,,,,-,, .'-'-', ......",
<br />
<br />
<br />Colorado's
<br />Decision Support
<br />System
<br />
<br />....:
<br />
<br />...,.
<br />'..'.....:......
<br />~"'-.: ':
<br />:. ....:.:
<br />-<::
<br />....:.:
<br />':-:':
<br />
<br />III I h
<br />l II'
<br />
<br />~: :~~~ :~~~<~~~~~~~::::
<br />
<br />database link at the top of the page. Several
<br />standard searches are available for
<br />instream flow rights, natural lake level
<br />rights and also, for donated water rights:
<br />(Countv, Water Division, Court Case Num-
<br />ber, StreamfLake Name, and Watershed).
<br />Another feature that will soon be available
<br />is a link to print either the instream flow or
<br />the natural lake level water right tabulation
<br />by water division.
<br />
<br />Document Imaging. The CWCB has
<br />embarked on a huge, labor intensive proj-
<br />ect to create digital images of the agency's
<br />files, publications and other documents.
<br />This effort, which is expected to take
<br />another year to complete, will ultimately
<br />provide Web access to all of the instream
<br />flow, natural lake and donated water right
<br />decrees. Thus far, we have completed scan-
<br />ning all of the natural lake documents and
<br />approximately 2/3 of the instream flow doc-
<br />uments. We are also in the process of
<br />upgrading our software and
<br />-hardware--t.s-allvw staff and the
<br />public to view the images.
<br />
<br />ISF Decision Support System.
<br />Over the past decade, the CWCB
<br />and the Division of Water
<br />Resources have developed the
<br />Colorado Decision Support Sys-
<br />tem (CDSS) to provide real-time
<br />information on water resources
<br />and water rights throughout the
<br />State. The CDSS includes power-
<br />ful modeling tools and allows
<br />users to view information in a
<br />spatial format. Staff is currently
<br />designing an additional compo-
<br />nent for CDSS that will incorpo-
<br />rate detailed information on
<br />instream flow and natural lake
<br />water rights. This new compo-
<br />nent will rely on existing tools in
<br />CDSS to monitor and protect
<br />the instream flow rights on a real-time
<br />basis. Staff is also investigating ways to
<br />integrate the Instream Flow Needs Assess-
<br />ment and the digital images of instream
<br />flow and natural lake water right decrees
<br />;~f-~ f-h~ ~~r;~f-;~" rncccc ~H~f-~m 'T'h;~ n--l--l~--l
<br />HL~~ ~u~ ~"U~~'Ub ~~~~ ~1~~~LU' ~ LU~ ~~~~~
<br />component will enhance the existing CDSS
<br />and allow staff to make more informed
<br />decisions when appropriating, acquiring,
<br />or protecting instream flow and natural
<br />lake water rights throughout the state. '"
<br />
|