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Water Development Office

Green River Basin Advisory Group
Meeting Record
Savery, WY
July 20, 2004

Welcome
Facilitator Sherri Gregory welcomed the group and the meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. All attendees introduced themselves, followed by a review of the overall meeting agenda. A sign-in sheet was passed around to record attendance. The next meeting is scheduled for October 12 in Lyman.

Water Development Commission Report
Barry Lawrence updated the BAG on the status of the river basin planning process for the other basins. He then discussed the agendas for future meetings, and distributed handouts from the prior meeting. The BAG for the Snake/Salt Basin will be meeting July 21 in Jackson.

Testing of Hydrologic Models for Estimating Streamflow in Mountainous Areas
Bruce Brinkman presented the research that was used to test models that are used to estimate stream flows in Wyoming. This research looked only at the portion of these existing equations that covered the snow-covered months of October through March. Physically measurements were made mid-month, every month, through the October to March time period during the winters of 2000-2001 and 2001-2002. The study sites consisted of eleven sites in the Brush Creek area, six sites in the Rock Creek area, six sites in the Douglas Creek area, and eight sites in the Encampment area. The measured data collected was then compared to the projected data of existing equations to determine their accuracy in this area of Wyoming. The data was then used to produce new equations for these flows in mountainous areas during winter conditions. The research resulted in new monthly equations for estimating monthly winter discharge. These equations are a function of the basin area and the range of the segment’s basin elevation: discharges = f (basin area, elevation range). Once the new equations were determined, their projections were compared with measured values around the State of Wyoming. They were found to fit well with seven of nine sites tested. The two sites that did not fit were found to have special geologic conditions that need additional research. Discussion followed.

Upper Green River Joint Powers Board Update
John Zebre indicated that the three counties are signing a revised agreement. The group’s scope has been broadened and the board will now consist of two members from each county, and one member-at-large, who will be appointed by a consensus of county commissioners. The next meeting is scheduled for August 11 in Kemmerer. Agenda items include potential WWDC project applications for Viva Naughton Enlargement/Dempsey Basin, Boulter Lake, a Level I reconnaissance study of the mainstem of the Upper Green River, and the Church Reservoir project. The group will also be discussing Army Corps of Engineers jurisdictional boundaries as relates to projects in Wyoming.

Colorado River Issues
Pat Tyrrell provided an update on Colorado River programs and issues. These included:

• Salinity Control Program. A Forum meeting & tour was held on June 3 in Rock Springs. An upcoming project will be the 2005 Triennial Review.
• Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Funding of $700,000 for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s budget was restored when the House of Representatives passed the Interior and related Agencies Appropriation Act for FY2005 on June 17.
• Drought overview in the Colorado River Basin. Fontenelle Reservoir filled due to higher than anticipated inflow in June. However, during the past five years, the average runoff has been 50% of unregulated inflow into Lake Powell. As of July 13, Lake Powell had storage of 10,275 MAF, which hasn’t been seen since Lake Powell originally filled in 1963. Currently, the Upper Basin has been delivering 8.23 MAF annually from Lake Powell to Lake Mead to the Lower Basin. If the drought continues at current levels, power generation will be affected. USBR modeling shows the potential of Lake Powell reaching 3490’ elevation, which is the minimum power pool elevation.

Discussion followed.

The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.

High Savery Reservoir Tour
The group reconvened after lunch for a tour of High Savery Reservoir as hosted by the Wyoming Water Development Commission (WWDC). Individuals from both the WWDC and the Wyoming Game & Fish Department made remarks at the site.