Timeline of Accomplishments
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2023/2024
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In W&S year 2023 (April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024), streamflow at the Kremmling and Dotsero gages were in the "Wettest 25%" category.
In 2023, Colorado Parks and Wildlife completed annual biosurveys at Radium and Catamount. The 2023 biomonitoring surveys indicated that both quality trout and biomass exceeded the identified thresholds at Radium and Catamount. In 2023, the catch-per-unit-effort for Radium was above the established threshold. The 2023 survey responses for the Recreational Floatboating ORV Indicator of "not likely to return" indicated no divergences from ORV Indicator values for Segments 5, 6, and 7. |
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In W&S year 2022 (April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023), streamflow at the Kremmling gage was ranked "Wet Typical" and streamflow at the Dotsero gage was ranked "Dry Typical."
In 2022, CPW completed fish monitoring surveys at State Bridge and Lyons. The 2022 fish monitoring surveys indicated that both quality trout and biomass exceeded the identified thresholds at State Bridge. In 2022, the catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) indicator threshold fell below the established threshold. As per the SG Plan, the ORV Indicator threshold for CPUE is not met if the threshold at a given location falls below the value in any 3 out of 5 years. The W&S SG will continue to track the CPUE ORV Indicator at Radium. The 2022 survey responses for the Recreational Floatboating ORV Indicator of "not likely to return" indicated no divergences from ORV Indicator values for Segment 7. July 2022 saw exceptionally warm stream temperatures and low streamflow conditions at the Kremmling, Catamount, and Dotsero locations. CPW enacted mandatory and voluntary fishing closures. The Colorado River Water Conservation District responded to the river conditions by releasing 200 acre feet from Wolford Reservoir. Later in August, Denver Water bypassed 200 acre feet in the Fraser River basin. |
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CPW completed the minimum number of fish monitoring surveys at all three W&S sampling reaches. The surveys indicated that both quality trout and biomass exceeded the identified thresholds at all three W&S reaches. In 2021, the catch-per-unit-effort threshold is only established at Radium this threshold was met.
The 2021 survey responses for the recreational floatboating ORV Indicator provided sufficient data to set the final ORV Indicator percentage values for Segment 5 and 6 in the Driest year type. No divergences were shown in 2021. The Channel Maintenance Flow workgroup met weekly to prepare an observational monitoring plan. Two RFPs will be released in early 2023 and monitoring for channel maintenance flows will start in fall 2023. June 2021 saw exceptionally warm stream temperatures and low streamflow conditions at the Kremmling, Catamount, and Dotsero gages. The Cooperative Measures Committee met remotely to try to address these conditions in the Upper Colorado River. W&S stakeholder water providers (River District, Denver Water, and Northern Water) responded to the river conditions by modifying their operations with resulted in increased flows in the Kremmling area of over 200 cfs. |
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In June, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service formally accepted the Amended and Restated Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Group Management Plan. A monumental achievement that was celebrated on Zoom due to COVID-19. Click here to view the press release from the federal agencies.
Monitoring is an essential component of the SG Plan. Due to travel restrictions and social distancing requirements related to the COVID-19 pandemic, data related to Recreational Fishing and Floatboating ORV Indicators was not collected. The SG monitored the Resource Guides to inform SG discussions. Resource Guides for usable floatboating days and seasonal flows were within range. Flows greater than the flushing flow of 2,500 cfs for three consecutive days at Kremmling occurred. No sites exceeded the acute Daily Maximum temperature standards. Three sites exceeded the chronic Maximum Weekly Average temperature standards. |
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In 2019, the Stakeholder Group continued to focus most of its efforts on developing final ORV Indicators and Resource Guides for the Amended & Restated SG Plan, which is scheduled for completion in June 2020. A Drafting Committee was formed that included one representative from each of the six Interest Groups to ensure completion of the Amended & Restated SG Plan by June 2020.
Final recommendations for Recreational Fishing ORV Indicators were voted on and approved at the March and June SG meetings. The Fishing AHC met regularly throughout 2019 to focus on the recommendations for flow-related Resource Guides (Seasonal Flows, Flushing Flows, and Channel Maintenance Flows). The Floatboating AHC continued to work on a recommendation to develop the current provisional narrative ORV Indicator with a more objective, data-driven assessment of visitor satisfaction to evaluate the existing range and quality of floatboating opportunities and set tolerances for the protection of these opportunities. The AHC also considered the inclusion f new data metrics, looking at user days data for both commercial and private use. The AHC developed a new Resource Guide for early-season boatable days (May 15 - June 20). In 2019, the Stakeholder Group contracted with Lotic Hydrological to conduct an inventory and summary of temperature influences and existing data. RRC Associates continued to support the Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group by providing access to the Stakeholder Group’s full set of data and conducting field intercept surveys to gather experiential data from anglers and boaters. In addition, the Stakeholder Group contracted with the U.S. Geological Survey to perform a flushing flow study using hydrophones, with results anticipated in early 2020. At the Annual Meeting in March, the Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group submitted a comment letter to the Kremmling Field Office regarding the Environmental Assessment for the Upper Colorado River Recreation Area Management Plan. |
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In 2018 the Governance Committee approved an extension of time beyond June 12, 2018 for adopting final Floatboating Resource Guides in accordance with paragraph III.C.2 (SG Plan, pg. 17) to the end of the provisional period on June 12, 2020. The Governance Committee also determined that the Stakeholder Group Plan does not preclude a decision on a case-by-case basis to adopt final ORV Indicators and Resource Guides that are dependent on additional input pursuant to a specified and approved process. In addition, the Governance Committee determined that provisional water quality and temperature Resource Guides in the SG Plan will change to align with CDPHE’s Regulation 33 as it is changed and revised.
Monitoring work included collection and assessment of data related to hydrology, fish biosurveys, macroinvertebrates, and temperature. The Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group initiated RFP processes for temperature and flushing flow investigations that will be completed in 2019 and early 2020. |
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The two Ad Hoc Committees met regularly during 2017, with the goal of making recommendations to the full stakeholder group. The stakeholder group continued coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to ensure that the fishery is in stable condition and continues to be capable of supporting the recreational Fishing ORV.
The stakeholder group installed a stream gage at Catamount Bridge to provide real-time data on flow rates, water temperature, and air temperature. The gage will assist with: (1) implementing cooperative measures to address temperature spikes that could impair the recreational fishery, (2) administrating the new instream flow rights on the mainstem of the Colorado River, and (3) providing flow information for recreationists who are making decisions about recreation activities and destinations. The stakeholder group worked with a contractor to sample aquatic macroinvertebrates at four locations along the Colorado River with the goal of establishing baseline biological data. |
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2016 |
In 2016, two Ad Hoc Committees were formed to address refinement of ORV Indicators and Resource Guides: one focused on Recreational Fishing (aka Fishing AHC) and the other focused on Recreational Floatboating (aka Floatboating AHC). The Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group continued to collect and analyze data on recreational floatboating and recreational fishing that includes both commercial and private anglers and recreational floatboaters.
The W&S Stakeholder Group pursued installation of a stream gage between Radium and Dotsero that will provide real-time flow rates, water temperature, and air temperature. This information will assist with implementing cooperative measures to address temperature spikes that could impair the recreational fishery. The proposed gage will also assist with administration of new instream flow rights on the mainstem of the Colorado River. The stakeholder group was instrumental in the establishment of instream flow water rights along the Colorado River between Kremmling and Dotsero. Even though these are relatively junior water rights, the administration of these rights provides ongoing certainty for both land and water managers along the river corridor. In addition, each of the six Interest Groups (Conservation/Environment/Fishing, East Slope Water Users, Local Government, Recreational Floatboating, State Interests, and West Slope Water Users and Landowners) completed their protocols and executed the MOUs. |
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On June 12, the Records of Decision (RODs) were released from the Bureau of Land Management Kremmling Field Office, Colorado River Valley Field Office and the United States Forest Service White River National Forest. The RODs incorporated the Alternative Management Plan from the Upper Colorado River Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group.
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The active Work Groups continue to work toward final Resource Guides and ORV Indicators.
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The Stakeholder Group (SG) made significant progress toward completion of the tasks described in Section B.2. of the Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Group Alternative Management Plant (AMP), which lists the timeline and tasks to be addressed during the period following submittal of the endorsed AMP until the effective date of the Plan (i.e., before BLM/USFS approve the Plan as the alternative in the Records of Decision).
Five active Work Groups (WG) work on final Resource Guides and ORV Indicators. Current WGs and Committees include the Management Team, Drafting Committee, and Monitoring WG. The SG unanimously agreed to to establish the Channel Maintenance WG and the Cooperative Measures WG in 2013.
During the 2012-2013 field seasons, the SG funded over $55,000 in field surveys to gather information on recreational floatboating and fishing experiences. On March 26, 2013, final decrees for the CWCB ISF applications were signed by the water judge. |
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During the summer field season, using in-kind services and equipment from the River District and Trout Unlimited, the Stakeholder Group installed, maintained, and monitored a network of water temperature data loggers throughout the W&S stream reach.
In June, Governor Hickenlooper sent a letter to State Director Helen Hankins of the US Bureau of Land Management and Regional Forester Dan Jiron of the US Forest Service commending the collaborative work of the Stakeholder Group and supporting the Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Alternative Management Plan. The public comment period for the BLM's Draft Resource Management Plan and Draft Environmental Statement closed on February 29, 2012. On January 11, 2012, the Stakeholder Group submitted its group comment letter to the Colorado River Valley and Kremmling Field Offices. |
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On November 30, 2011, water court applications were filed to adjudicate instream flows with a July 12, 2011 appropriation date for each stream reach.
Blue River to Piney River (2011CW159) Piney River to Cabin Creek (2011CW160) Cabin Creek to Eagle River (2011CW161) In September, the BLM opened the public comment period for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Resource Management Plan for the Colorado River Valley Field Office with the intention of closing the comment period by mid-January 2012. The CWCB declared its intent to appropriate ISFs on July 12, 2011. The SG made a written recommendation to the CWCB for appropriation of an instream flow (ISF) on June 30, 2011. On February 28, 2011, the Stakeholder Group submitted its Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Alternative Management Plan to the BLM. This group spent countless hours negotiating and drafting the plan. The Alternative Management Plan is endorsed by each of the stakeholders' respective governing boards. In April 2011, the Colorado RIver Valley and Kremmling BLM Field Offices and the White River National Forest released the final Wild and Scenic River Suitability Report. |
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2009
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During 2009, the Wild & Scenic Stakeholder Group met regularly and continued to work together to gather information and develop more specific elements and details for the Final Alternative Management Plan.
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In June 2008, the Stakeholder Group submitted a Conceptual Plan for a Wild & Scenic Alternative Management Plan to the Kremmling and Glenwood Springs Field Offices of the BLM and to the White River National Forest for use in their Draft Environmental Impact Statements. Since that time, the group has worked together to gather information and develop more specific elements and details for the Final Alternative Management Plan.
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In 2007, the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a report on the eligibility of rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin for Wild and Scenic River designation (BLM Eligibility Report, March 2007). This report identified 54.4 miles of the Upper Colorado River from the top of Gore Canyon downstream to a point one mile east of No Name Creek in Glenwood Springs, Colorado (segments 4 through 7) as having numerous “outstandingly remarkable values” eligible for special federal designation as a Wild and Scenic River.
Various state agencies, local governments, environmental and recreational interests, landowners, anglers, and water providers came together as an independent collaborative stakeholder group to develop a local management alternative to Wild and Scenic River designation of the Upper Colorado River with the intention of protecting and perhaps enhancing the outstandingly remarkable values on this part of the Colorado River in ways that coordinate with federal agency management. The Stakeholder Group’s Alternative Management Plan is proposed to the BLM as an alternative in the BLM and US Forest Service (USFS) Resource Management Plan revision process. The intention of this collaborative plan is to balance permanent protection of the identified outstandingly remarkable values of these river segments, while still providing flexibility for all water users, certainty for the stakeholders, and yields for water projects. |