Response to Comments on the Colorado River Wat

Response to Comments on the Colorado River Water Supply Availability Scope of Work - October 19, 2007 Individual and/or Date of Comment Response Organization Comment emphasize more strongly that legal availability will be a principal factor in determining availability. The scope of work should describe how legal availability will be addressed in the modeling efforts. GBRT 10/3/07 3) The following categories of water use should be ad ded to the The Scope of Work changed from “Categories of wate r use scope of work: Storage of water for recreational, fishery and include …” to “Categories of water use include beneficial uses wildlife purposes, hydropower, federal reserved water rights, recognized under Colorado water law and other “non - water reservoir operations to address endangered fish and PBO right” considerations such as reservoir operations, by - pass obligations. flows, endangered species flows. etc.” GBRT 10/3/07 4) Additional c onsideration should be given to the key stream Gage data is important and while the data at certain gages locations selected for the study. Two specific examples are noted may not be used for certain purposes, it does not make it as follows: meaningless. The Gunnison gage was useful in the Gunnison Specific suggestion a) R ICD case. Data from the North Fork may have significant The use of the Gunnison River gage at Gunnison and Tomichi Creek gage at Gunnison are virtually meaningless in determining limitations, but there were actual stream flow measurements the legal and physical availability of water in the Upper Gunnison made. All data was considered in the development of the Basin ( For example, they aren’t relied upon by the division CDSS and used within the recognized limitations. Through engineer in his operational spreadsheet for management of the Task 4, r oundtable membe rs and other water users will have river). Specific suggestion b) an opportunity , to review the data and documentation and to The gauging station on the North Fork near Hotchkiss is understand and provide input on the modeling of key stream inaccurate, has been inoperable for several of the past years and location in the different subbasins. The scope of work (Task only provides data for a part of the year. The other gauging 4a) was also amended to clarify that the location of key stream stations on the North Fork have serious problems also. In order to have confidence in the study conclusions for the North Fork sub - locations may change. basin, reliable data will be needed. GBRT 10/3/07 5) It may be appropriate for certain conditional water rights to be Phase 1 will look at absolute water rights and other “non - water included among existing demands in Phase I of the study. A right” considerations (15 mile reach, reservoir operations, by - discussion should be carried out with the participation of the pass flows, etc.). Through Task 4 there will be an opportunity round tables during which criteria are developed as to which to understand and provide input on existing demands. Phase conditional water rights should be included in Phase I. 2 will look at additional consumptive and non - consumptive demands which could be met through conditional water rights. GBRT 10/3/07 6) Consideratio n of administrative means of addressing a We have clarified the scope such that there wi l l be no Compact Call should be removed from Task 8.b. Consultation investigation/analysis of compact administrative options in with State legal counsel is appropriate to evaluate legal availability Phase I. Phase I emphasis will be on ranges of aggregate of water under the Colorado River compacts. How a Compact West Slope allowable depletions and associated flows. That Call will or may be admi nistered has no bearing on the water available. Administration of the call will only determine how the information should not generate confidentially concerns. available water will be distributed within Colorado, a political issue Depending on the work product of the separate, special State inappropriate for this study. Recommended language for Task work group addressing Compact issues, the administrative 8.b. is provided bel ow: 7 of 10 Page