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. -. 10/29/97 14:15 '6'303 245 6933 FISH & WILDLIFE ~~~ CO REC PROG-DEN raJ 003 the exclusive use of these fish. The original Biological Opinion for the Muddy Creek Reservoir <-(7 Project prepared by U.S. Fish ane wildlife Service in 1990 addressed these species and tound.~~~mpa~s. The razorback sucker was only a candidate species in 1990, however, it too was addressed in the original Biological Assessment and Biological Opinions. C1.unulative Analysis of Water Storage and Releases The current permits authorize 60,000 acre-ft of storage, with a predicted depletion of 7,716 acre-ft/yr to the Colorado River basin. It was agreed that 3 out of 5 years (on the average), 3,000 acre-ft could be requested by the USFW Service for releases for the Colorado River fish. The proposed modifications will cause the depletions to increase to 13,485 ac-ft/yr, with an ..stab'lishtnent of a 6, 000 acre~ft pool specff:tta:J:l"Y'r-or-n!l'ease-s.- by the USFW Service for the Colorado River fish. Although impacts to Muddy Creek stream flows would be significant, Colorado River flows near Cameo are projected to change less than 1% as a result of the reservoir operations. Due to this small percentage, and the 6,000 acre-ft pool being available for releases, there are no cumulative adverse impacts to the fish species listed above. Critical habitat of the Razorback sucker and the Colorado squawfish is the Colorado River upstream of Cameo, near Rifle, inCluding the 100-yr floodplain, down past the state line. It is hoped that the action will benefit critical habitat and the endangered fish. No cumulative adverse impacts to any of the species listed above are expected from the proposed action. Monitoring/Evaluation Needs No additional monitoring or evaluation, beyond that which was recommended in the original BiOlogical Opinion, is needed for the species listed above. The Colorado Division of wildlife continues to monitor Bald Eagle success and adaptation to the project. Analysis The proposed action will not affect either plant species because no additional plants, not already mitigated by the original action of pe~itting the reservoir, occur below the proposed high water line. It is anticipated that Bald Eagle habitat will improve as a result of the open water in Muddy Creek created by the original project. The fish species listed above will benefit from the timed releases of an additional 6,000 acre-feet from the reservoir pool. Conclusion Based on the analysis presented above, the proposed action should not have a negative affect on the existence of any of the plant