1. Ecological and Recreational Flows Workgroup Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study Next Steps Urban Water Institute August 14, 2014 San Diego, CA

2. Environmental and Recreational Resources in the Basin 45 distinct freshwater ecosystems 7 National Wildlife Refuges 11 National Parks

3. Environmental and Recreational Flows Considered in the Basin Study Demand scenarios – non-consumptive demands evaluated across all demand scenarios with metrics Metrics to quantify impacts to Basin resources Modelling a conceptual Upper Basin water bank

4. Environmental and Recreational Flows Workgroup “This workgroup will develop a report that, for areas found by the Study to be highly vulnerable, describes any uncertainties related to the representation of those areas in the modeling framework and the assumed flow needs. Additionally, this workgroup will explore opportunities to implement options that provide multiple benefits to improve flow and water-dependent ecological systems, power generation, and recreation. This workgroup will also propose Phase 2 activities to be conducted in 2014 to the Coordination Team.” - Moving Forward Fact Sheet: Moving Forward to Address the Challenges Identified in the Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study

5. Workgroup Three co-chairs –Ted Kowalski - Colorado Water Conservation Board –Taylor Hawes - The Nature Conservancy –Alan Butler - Reclamation Workgroup participants: American Rivers American Whitewater Arizona Department of Water Resources Bureau of Reclamation Central Arizona Project CH2M HILL Colorado River Board of California Colorado River Energy Distributors Association Colorado River Water Conservation District Colorado Springs Utilities Colorado Water Conservation Board Environmental Defense Fund Front Range Water Council National Park Service National Parks Conservation Association New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Rio Grande Restoration Southern Nevada Water Authority Squire, Sanders & Dempsey LLP Metropolitan Water District of Southern California The Nature Conservancy Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems Utah Department of Natural Resources Western Area Power Administration Zebre Law Office

6. Workgroup Approach Develop guiding principals Identify 2-6 focus reaches Assessment of focus reaches Document existing mechanisms or programs that protect or improve ecological and recreational resources, while supporting other management goals Explore and document opportunities and potential solutions that might be applied at a scale broader than the focus reach-level

7. Guiding Principles Seek solutions that promote environmental resiliency. Recognize the importance of river-based recreational benefits to local economies. Recognize the importance of ecological and recreational resources. Acknowledge tradeoffs among resource management actions. Use the best science available. Comport with current laws and governance. Complement other workgroups. Optimize benefits through collaboration.

8. Focus Reaches Workgroup selected four focus reaches to explore and help meet Phase 1 objectives

9. Existing Ecological and Recreational Flows Programs Reviewed existing programs to understand mechanisms currently being used to benefit ecological and recreational resources

10. Broad Scale Potential Solutions Workgroup currently working on identifying opportunities and challenges for expanding environmental and recreational flow programs Includes identifying potential future actions associated with the opportunities for consideration by the Coordination Team Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy