Upper Arkansas Voluntary Flow Management Program. Arkansas Basin Roundtable May 10, 2017

Transcription

1 Upper Arkansas Voluntary Flow Management Program Arkansas Basin Roundtable May 10, 2017

2 Upper Arkansas Voluntary Flow Management Program For rafting: Minimum flow of 700 cfs at Wellsville between July 1 and Aug. 15 each year. Releases of Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water in excess of 10,000 acre-feet require review. For fishing: Optimal flows for fish spawning, incubation and insect hatching. Target flows between cfs are suggested, but there are several seasonal variances. Water management: The parties request the Bureau of Reclamation avoid dramatic fluctuations on the Arkansas River throughout the year. Ramping flows up or down should be limited to 10-15% change. Releases are dependent on storage levels. Does not preclude other releases from other users, mainly municipal. Case No. 04CW129, for Salida s RICD, calls for a 5-year contract among 5 parties.

3 VFMP: Protection in legal decrees While it s called voluntary, the program is protected in several ways in court cases: 1. 04CW129 The Salida RICD case sets out five-year agreements that spell out terms of the program. 2. Southeastern District standard language. The District now has standard language for ongoing and future court cases that has been employed in previous court cases as well. 3. Reclamation contract conditions include VFMP support. Exchanges No exchanges are allowed against U.S. releases of Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water that is meant to satisfy target flows for the VFMP. Augmentation Releases Any releases made to augment depletions in Pueblo Reservoir will not injure the VFMP.

4 Important Court Decisions 1980s exchange decrees: Created minimum flows for wastewater treatment plants in Salida and Canon City. Aurora-Rocky Ford exchange case: Arkansas River Outfitters Association worked with U.S. Attorney s office to reinterpret recreation values for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. 1. In the original Project, only flatwater recreation envisioned. 2. The Arkansas River was no longer considered merely a delivery system between reservoirs, but a recreational component of the Project. 3. Initiated exchange indexing tied to flows. Pueblo West-Hill Ranch exchange case: Aurora- Rocky Ford case set a precedent. Chaffee County RICD: Established five-year, fiveparty agreements.

5 Paragraph 11 of the VFMP agreement: In the event that, during the term of this Agreement, any Party seeks or publicly supports any federal legislative or administrative action designating a wild, scenic and/ or recreational river, and/ or a wilderness area with express or implied reserved water rights, on the Arkansas River in Chaffee or Fremont County, either Southeastern or CDNR may elect to terminate this Agreement by mailing written notice to the Parties. The termination will be effective as to any Plan Years remaining in the term of this Agreement. The VFMP is not blanket protection for all non-consumptive uses. Wild and Scenic designation could threaten VFMP.

6 The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and the VFMP Fryingpan-Arkansas Project operates Boustead Tunnel, Turquoise Lake, Twin Lakes and Pueblo Reservoir. Colorado River and Arkansas River flows are heaviest in late May and June, during runoff from snow melt. Space is needed in Turquoise Lake each May, so water is moved downstream to Lake Pueblo, usually in winter months. Timing managed to maintain minimum 250 cfs for fish. As Arkansas River flows drop in July and August, water is added to the Arkansas River to maintain favorable boating conditions.

7 Consequences of moving water July-August Evaporative Loss: Twin Lakes: inches Pueblo: inches Source: Western Regional Climate Center Fish health: Optimal flows = cfs Transit loss: 10% from Twin Lakes-Pueblo Res.

8 Flow management: Beginnings Commercial and private boating interests, along with fishermen, asked the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Department of Parks to help develop better land and water management along the Arkansas River in the 1980s.

9 Flow management: Beginnings There had been conflicts between landowners, particularly ranchers, because of the increasing use of the river.

10 New Concept In response, the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area was formed in 1989 and is assisted by a Citizens Task Force, which reviews area issues and makes recommendations to AHRA. The Task Force is made up of volunteer citizen members throughout the basin with representation from anglers, environmental groups, cattlemen, water users, local governments, private boaters and commercial rafting companies.

11 1990: The Proposal Rafters asked the Bureau of Reclamation to release flows from Turquoise Lake or Twin Lakes to Pueblo Reservoir during summer months. Water formerly owned by farmers in Twin Lakes was now mostly owned by cities, which held water rather than releasing it at that time of year. The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District was approached because it owns Fryingpan-Arkansas Project water rights and coordinates with the Bureau of Reclamation on Fry-Ark operation. Minimum flow target: 700 cfs at the Wellsville gauge near Howard

12 1990: May board meeting of the SECWCD David Sarton: Increased pressure on fishing industry. Reed Dils: Longterm plan needed to help rafting industry. Frank Milenski: Adverse impact on Winter Water storage. Ed Bailey: Not the most efficient use of water as required by state law. Ray Nixon: What if there s an early runoff and the water is needed later in the season?

13 1990: Heavy water The Southeastern District board adopted a resolution expressing its concern about the program. And renewed it at the May meeting. But the flow management program moved ahead anyway. The Bureau of Reclamation released 23,000 acre-feet of water to enhance flows, beginning on July 13 and ending on August 21. The losses were calculated at 272 acre-feet (1.2 percent). Minimum flow target: 700 cfs at the Wellsville gauge near Howard

14 1991: Rough, rapid start December 1990: Division of Wildlife criteria for moving 44,000 acre-feet of water in winter months. February-April 1991: SECWCD, DOW, State Parks discuss augmentation of flows. May 16, 1991: Detailed discussion of flow program at SECWCD board meeting. July 16, 1991: Flows at Wellsville drop below 700 cfs, releases of water begin. Aug. 12, 1991: Trout Unlimited files lawsuit. Nov. 15, 1991: TU suit dismissed. About 5,700 acre-feet of water were released in 1991

15 1992: Rowing together By 1992, the Southeastern District began approving annual flow management agreements, which created a template in terms of flows, limits and conditions. The evaporative loss to Project water is repaid by Division of Parks and Wildlife.

16 Does it work? The amount of water released for the program varies according to many factors: VFMP Annual Releases 1. Water supply: In drought years, little water is available. 2. Storage: When storage is full, there is water available. 3. Timing of runoff: In some years, runoff may continue well into the summer months, and flow augmentation is not needed until late in the season ,000 AF

17 Dry years All three years were very dry in the Arkansas River basin, but the difference was a big snowpack in No additional water was needed. The target was lowered to 300 cfs in 2012, and adjusted several times in

18 Wet years These three years were all wet, although August, normally a wet month, was abnormally dry in 2009 and The target was not met for two weeks in In 2015, the wet spring yielded to a dry summer. 2015

19 Improving the fishery Understanding of the fishery has evolved over time. This has helped to prioritize the various fishery recommendations. Fall: River is what it is. Low flow during spawning is beneficial to insure eggs are placed in streambed that will remain covered.

20 Improving the fishery Understanding of the fishery has evolved over time. This has helped to prioritize the various fishery recommendations. Winter: Moving water, flows frequently higher than in fall. Most eggs are located in areas with good coverage.

21 Improving the fishery Understanding of the fishery has evolved over time. This has helped to prioritize the various fishery recommendations. Spring: Most critical time for fishery and best opportunity to actually manipulate flows to achieve benefit.

22 Questions