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<br />Flaming Gorge Dam operations <br /> <br />A major element of recovery in the Green River is to alter the operation of Flaming Gorge <br />Dam to enhance endangered fish habitat. The Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological <br />opinion on the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam in 1991. This opinion contained flow <br />recommendations for the Green River at Jensen, Utah, for July through October. For the rest <br />of the year, it specified a range of experimental test flows. <br /> <br />The biological opinion identified the need to protect releases from Flaming Gorge from <br />possible diversion in habitat occupied by endangered fish. The initial focus was to legally <br />protect Green River flows from Flaming Gorge to the confluence with the Duchesne River <br />for July through October. Flow protection for the remainder of the year (November through <br />June) and downstream to Canyonlands National Park will be addressed after the revised <br />biological opinion is issued in 1997. <br /> <br />The Flaming Gorge researchers have developed a contingency plan to collect scientific data <br />should runoff levels exceed 20,000 cubic feet per second. Data collected during the high <br />spring runoff would be incorporated with fish research already being conducted. The <br />information would be used in preparing the biological opinion on the operations of the dam, <br /> <br />In other news, research for the Flaming Gorge revised biological opinion is winding down, <br />with many studies scheduled for completion in 1996, These studies are designed to meet <br />long-term data needs while collecting new information necessary for the revised biological <br />opinion, due in 1997. <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Flaming Gorge Work Group to meet to discuss spring releases based on <br />latest forecast of snow pack, <br />April 16, 1996. <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Public meeting scheduled at the Western Plaza Community Center, 300 <br />East 200 South, Vernal, Utah. Agenda items include presentations on <br />research findings, the Colorado River Compact, spring runoff estimates <br />and the proposed options for spring 1996 operations. <br />April 16, 1996,7 p.m, <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Date: <br /> <br />Revised biological opinion on operation of Flaming Gorge Dam to be <br />frnaIiz.ed. <br />Sept. 30, 1997. <br /> <br />Action: <br /> <br />Questions? <br /> <br />Please call Henry Maddux at (970) 245-3920, ex!. 29. <br /> <br />6 <br />