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<br />Action: <br />Date: <br /> <br />Draft biological opinion on operation of the Aspinall Unit to be completed, <br />March 31, 1998, <br /> <br />Questions? <br /> <br />Please call Hemy Maddux at (970) 245-3920, ext. 29. <br /> <br />Grand Valley water management <br /> <br />The IS-mile reach of the Colorado River upstream of the confluence of the Gunnison River <br />is an important area for recovery efforts, as described in previous section entitled, "IS-mile <br />reach flow protection." For the past three years the Recovery Program has contracted for the <br />operation of a water gauge at the lower end of the IS-mile reach. The gauge determines the <br />amount of Grand Valley irrigation water that eventually returns to the IS-mile reach. (The <br />report summarizing flows in the IS-mile reach can be obtained from George Smith at 303- <br />236-5322, ext. 235.) <br /> <br />The Grand Valley Project consists of a roller dam on the Colorado River near Cameo, Colo., <br />and more than 55 miles of canal and pipelines that deliver irrigation water to the Grand <br />Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation is working to determine how the Grand Valley Project <br />could be operated to benefit endangered fish by increasing flows in the IS-mile reach of the <br />Colorado River. A diverse group of water interests is participating in a Grand Valley water <br />management study to explore the technical, legal and policy issues associated with modified <br />operation and to identify canal improvements that will increase system efficiency. <br /> <br />Reclamation has developed a computer model of the Grand Valley Project's canal system <br />identifying where gates or "check structures" can be installed to improve canal efficiency and <br />to reduce demands for future water diversions. Reclamation has been working with water <br />users on how automation could help their systems operate more efficiently, Reclamation also <br />has identified other issues that water users want to solve as part of the project. The water <br />management work group, which includes the Colorado Water Conservation Board, <br />Reclamation, water users and interested citizens, has identified enough potential benefit that <br />the project should move quickly into the design and permitting stage. <br /> <br />An important aspect of this project is the quantification and protection of water saved by <br />canal automation. Several methods are being considered for protecting some of the saved <br />water for endangered fish. These options include legislation that would allow saved water to <br />be made available for in-stream flows and would allow modification of the Orchard Mesa <br />checking operation, permitting more water to be stored in Green Mountain Reservoir. <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Monthly meeting with Grand Valley Water Users Board, 500 South 10th <br />St., Grand Junction, Colo, <br />Third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Questions? <br /> <br />Please call Henry Maddux at (970) 245-3')20, (xt. 29, <br /> <br />8 <br />