HomeMy WebLinkAboutR87-34 Ruedi Round Two Water SalesCommissioner its e lC i moved adoption
of the following Resolution:
BOARD OF COUNTY
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO
RESOLUTION NO. 87-
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of the County
of Eagle, State of Colorado (hereinafter the "Board "), is a
member of the Ruedi Water and Power Authority (hereinafter the
"Authority "), a quasi - governmental body duly constituted under
§ 29 -1 -303, C.R.S., pursuant to Intergovernmental Agreement
dated July 18, 1983, by and between the member jurisdictions;
and
WHEREAS, the Authority has actively participated in
negotiations, discussions and public meetings pursuant to the
First Round Sales and Second Round negotiations for sale of
water from Ruedi Reservoir by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation;
and
WHEREAS, all parties to these negotiations and discus-
sions have developed an operational plan governing releases
pursuant to First Round Sales and a Preferred Operational
Alternative pursuant to Second -Round Sales, both of which
would preserve and protect the economic, aquatic and recrea-
tional values associated with the use of Ruedi Reservoir and
the Fryingpan River; and
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Reclamation adopted that opera-
tional plan and that Preferred Alternative based on substantial
factual evidence, extensive public process and a clear under-
standing of the economic importance of recreational use of the
Fryingpan River and Ruedi Reservoir to the Roaring Fork
Valley; and
WHEREAS, prior to implementing those operational plans
and those Second -Round Sales, the Bureau of Reclamation
entered into consultations with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act;
and
WHEREAS, those consultations and related negotiations
with other parties have led to the issuance of a Draft Biolog-
ical Opinion; and
i
WHEREAS, implementation of the Draft Biological Opinion
may result in operational practices for Ruedi Reservoir
contrary to those previously adopted, accepted, and relied
upon by members of the Authority; and
WHEREAS, those operational practices for Ruedi Reservoir
may injure the economic, aquatic, aesthetic, and recreational
values associated with Ruedi Reservoir and the Fryingpan River
to the detriment of the citizens, residents, and guests of the
Roaring Fork Valley; and
WHEREAS, other potential changes in historic water
management on the Western Slope due to agreements between
various east and west slope water management entities may have
equally detrimental impacts on the values and resources
historically supported by Ruedi management; and
WHEREAS, The Bureau of Reclamation is currently analyzing
the impacts of supplemental Ruedi releases for endangered
species pursuant to the Draft Biological Opinion and the
available management and mitigation measures for minimizing
those impacts; and
WHEREAS, The Bureau of Reclamation is currently solicit-
ing public comment on proposed changes in Ruedi management as
a part of revising the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on
Ruedi Round Two Water Sales which will identify the impacts of
Ruedi water sales and endangered species releases.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF COLORADO, AS A
MEMBER OF THE RUEDI WATER AND POWER AUTHORITY, AS FOLLOWS:
THAT, the Board hereby directs its staff to take all
appropriate steps to ensure that any operational plans adopted
for Ruedi Reservoir pursuant to water sales, Endangered
Species releases, or for any other purpose, are consistent
with the operational guidelines adopted for First Round Water
Sales and /or the Preferred Alternative for Second -Round Sales,
and that those plans acknowledge and safeguard the recreational,
scenic, biological and economic values of Ruedi Reservoir, the
Ruedi Hydropower Project and the Fryingpan River.
THAT, consistent with the policy of the State of Colorado,
water in storage should not be used to supplement or augment
downstream water needs of any kind if alternatives are locally
available. Pursuant to this policy, The Bureau of Reclamation
should require the investigation and implementation of alter-
native solutions in the Cameo area for the protection of
endangered species habitat. Further, all available sources
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should bear an equal burden in supplying reliable endangered
species supplemental flows.
THAT, conservation flows for the protection of endangered
species should be rejected if the Bureau's analysis of their
impacts demonstrates that fisheries, recreation or power uses
currently associated with Ruedi Reservoir and the Fryingpan
River are likely to be significantly affected.
THAT, if conservation flows are approved and implemented,
and the above - referenced uses are observed to be significantly
impaired, such conservation flows should be terminated.
THAT, the Board shall take all appropriate steps to
ensure that any operational plans adopted for Ruedi Reservoir
pursuant to water sales, Endangered Species releases, or for
any other purpose are consistent with the operational guide-
lines adopted for First Round Water Sales and the Preferred
Alternative for Second -Round Sales, and that those plans
acknowledge and safeguard the recreational, scenic, biological
and economic values of Ruedi Reservoir, the Ruedi Hydropower
Project and the Fryingpan River.
MOVED, READ AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commis-
sioners of the County of (E�a�gile, State of Colorado, at its
regular meeting held the day of 1987.
O_
ty Commissioners
COUNTY OF EAGLE, STATE OF
COLORADO, By and Through Its
BOARD Q.F_COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
L.
QL
I
_ � �
Donald . Welch, C mmissioner
GeorgejA. Gates, Commissioner
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Commissioner seconded adoption
of the foregoing resolution. The roll having been called, the
vote was as follows:
Commissioner
Richard L.
Gustafson
141i
Commissioner
Donald H.
Welch
A
Commissioner
George A.
Gates,
This Resolution passed by vote of the Board of
County Commissioners of the County of Eagle, State of
Colorado.
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