Study Area. The White River is a major tributary to the Green River, second only to the Yampa River in annual discharge under current conditions of development. It is more than 200 miles long and drains nearly 5,120 square miles in western Colorado and eastern Utah, merging with the Green River in northeastern Utah approximately 98 river miles downstream from the Yampa River confluence, and two miles downstream from the Duchesne River confluence. Most White River runoff derives from high elevation snow accumulation and melt. Under current conditions, average runoff in the White River is about 508,000 acre-feet annually, based on measurements at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gages near ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Utah (#09306500) and near the Colorado State Line (#09306395) from 1975 to 2015. Median flows vary from around 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) in late summer to well over 3,000 cfs during the peak of spring snowmelt runoff. The White River, over the period identified above, contributed on average about 13% of the total annual flow in the lower Green River as measured at the USGS gage at Green River, Utah (#09315000). The hydrology of the White River is affected by various water diversions and uses within the river basin, and by one substantial mainstem impoundment, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Draw Dam, near Rangely, Colorado at river mile 103. However, compared to most other major rivers in the upper Colorado River system, the hydrology of the White River remains relatively unaltered. Agricultural water use is the single largest consumptive use in the basin. Recent estimates indicate approximately 28,100 irrigated acres in the basin in Colorado, with a corresponding average consumptive annual irrigation water requirement of approximately 46,400 acre-feet per year (CWCB 2019). Almost all of this irrigation is provided by surface water; groundwater pumping in the basin is relatively minor. As noted above, a White River Planning Team (Planning Team) is helping to guide this effort. The Team is comprised of a water user’s representative, the Ute Indian Tribe, Rio ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Water Conservancy District, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Utah Water Resources, The Nature Conservancy, and the Program Director’s Office (PDO). These representatives are assisting with the development of this Management Plan. ERO Resources was contracted in late 2019 to provide support for: a) modeling projected future water development scenarios to understand effects on White River hydrology and the Recovery Program’s interim endangered fish flow recommendations; b) assisting with scheduling, facilitating, summarizing stakeholder and public outreach meetings; c) drafting and revising (as needed) a Management Plan; and d) assisting with NEPA compliance. Completed Hire consultant CWCB in consultation with PDO and Planning Team Completed Agree on current and future water demand scenarios to be incorporated into White River Management Plan PDO working with White River Planning Teamand other basin interests Completed Finalize provisional flow recommendations PDO and Recovery Programcommittees Completed Identify, evaluate, and recommend management actions to offset depletion impacts Consultant working with White River Planning Team and PDO Jul 2021 (one of two scenarios completed) Evaluate impacts of water demand scenario on interim recommended flows and endangered species Consultant working with White River Planning Team Sep 2021 Distribute draft Management Plan including a suite of recovery actions needed to offset depletion impacts Consultant Sep – Nov 2021 Conduct meetings with public, Yampa/White/Green Basin Roundtable, Utah, Ute Tribe, etc. to communicate content of the draft Management Plan; document results of public input. Consultant Nov 2021 Based on public input, revise draft Plan for review by CWCB, PDO, Planning Team, and White River Working Group; following review, finalize plan. Consultant Dec 2021 Develop a draft cooperative agreement framework. Initiate NEPA compliance. USFWS begins drafting PBO. Consultant Jan 2022 Complete compilation of information required for NEPA compliance. Consultant
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Scope of Work
Study Area. The White River is a major tributary to the Green River, second only to the Yampa River in annual discharge under current conditions of development. It is more than 200 miles long and drains nearly 5,120 square miles in western Colorado and eastern Utah, merging with the Green River in northeastern Utah approximately 98 river miles downstream from the Yampa River confluence, and two miles downstream from the Duchesne River confluence. Most White River runoff derives from high elevation snow accumulation and melt. Under current conditions, average runoff in the White River is about 508,000 acre-feet annually, based on measurements at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) gages near ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Utah (#09306500) and near the Colorado State Line (#09306395) from 1975 to 2015. Median flows vary from around 350 cubic feet per second (cfs) in late summer to well over 3,000 cfs during the peak of spring snowmelt runoff. The White River, over the period identified above, contributed on average about 13% of the total annual flow in the lower Green River as measured at the USGS gage at Green River, Utah (#09315000). The hydrology of the White River is affected by various water diversions and uses within the river basin, and by one substantial mainstem impoundment, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Draw Dam, near Rangely, Colorado at river mile River Mile 103. However, compared to most other major rivers in the upper Colorado River system, the hydrology of the White River remains relatively unaltered. Agricultural water use is the single largest consumptive use in the basin. Recent estimates indicate approximately 28,100 26,000 to 28,000 irrigated acres in the basin in Colorado, with a corresponding average consumptive annual irrigation water requirement of approximately 46,400 between 32,634 and 45,740 acre-feet per year (CWCB 20192015; AMEC and Hydros, 2015). Almost all of this irrigation is provided by surface water; groundwater pumping in the basin is relatively minor. As noted above, a White River Planning Team (Planning Team) is helping to guide this effort. The Team is comprised of a water user’s representative, the Ute Indian Tribe, Rio ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Water Conservancy District, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Utah Water Resources, The Nature Conservancy, and the Program Director’s Office (PDO). These representatives are assisting with the development of this Management Plan. ERO Resources was contracted in late 2019 to provide support for: a) modeling projected future water development scenarios to understand effects on White River hydrology and the Recovery Program’s interim endangered fish flow recommendations; b) assisting with scheduling, facilitating, summarizing stakeholder and public outreach meetings; c) drafting and revising (as needed) a Management Plan; and d) assisting with NEPA compliance. Completed Hire consultant CWCB in consultation with PDO and Planning Team Completed Agree on current and future water demand scenarios to be incorporated into White River Management Plan PDO working with White River Planning Teamand other basin interests Completed Finalize provisional flow recommendations PDO and Recovery Programcommittees Completed Identify, evaluate, and recommend management actions to offset depletion impacts Consultant working with White River Planning Team and PDO Jul 2021 (one of two scenarios completed) Evaluate impacts of water demand scenario on interim recommended flows and endangered species Consultant working with White River Planning Team Sep 2021 Distribute draft Management Plan including a suite of recovery actions needed to offset depletion impacts Consultant Sep – Nov 2021 Conduct meetings with public, Yampa/White/Green Basin Roundtable, Utah, Ute Tribe, etc. to communicate content of the draft Management Plan; document results of public input. Consultant Nov 2021 Based on public input, revise draft Plan for review by CWCB, PDO, Planning Team, and White River Working Group; following review, finalize plan. Consultant Dec 2021 Develop a draft cooperative agreement framework. Initiate NEPA compliance. USFWS begins drafting PBO. Consultant Jan 2022 Complete compilation of information required for NEPA compliance. Consultant.
Appears in 1 contract