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<br />.-;, <br />~ ) <br />_,I. .1 <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />The Recoverv ImDlementation Proaram for Endanaered Fish SDecies in the UDDer <br />Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) was formally adopted in January 1988. <br />The formation and execution of this recovery effort involved the States of <br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; the Bureau of Reclamation; the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service; Western Area Power Administration; representatives of the <br />water users; and environmental organizations. The Recovery Program states: <br /> <br />"The parties will develop a release schedule that treats <br />conservation of endangered fish species as a firm constraint <br />on release patterns from Flaming Gorge. Upon completion of <br />consultation, Reclamation will adopt alternatives or <br />recommendations jointly developed with the Service." <br /> <br />Just prior to implementing the Recovery Program in 1988, a multiagency Flaming <br />Gorge Section 7 Consultation Team was formed to evaluate biological <br />information and ongoing studies prior to issuance of the Biological Opinion. <br />The final products formulated under the direction of this team were the <br />consolidated hydrology and biology reports. The Final Consolidated HvdroloQv <br />Reoort (Smith and Green 1991), provided hydrologic information on the past and <br />current operation of Flaming Gorge Dam, and discussed models which could be <br />used to predict changes in sediment transport, temperature, and channel <br />morphology resulting from recommended operational changes included in this <br />Opinion. The final consolidated biological report titled Habitat Use and <br />Streamflow Needs of Rare and Endanaered Fishes in the Green River. Utah (Tyus <br />and Karp 1991) merged the results of numerous studies done by a variety of <br />government and private researchers. Together, these consolidated reports form <br />the basis for~he Service's recommended refinement of the existing operation <br />of Flaming Gorge Dam to improve downstream conditions for rare and endangered <br />fishes in the Green River. . <br /> <br />GREEN AND YAMPA RIVER COMPLEX <br /> <br />The Service considers the Yampa and Green Rivers as a system that is essential <br />to the survival and recovery of the endangered fish, primarily because of <br />their biologic and hydrologic interrelationships. The Green River above its <br />c~nfluence with the Yampa River was severely altered (hydrograph, temperature, <br />sediment transport, fish habitat, stream species composition) through <br />construction and operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. Yampa River flows, however, <br />remain predominately unregulated and follow a more natural hydrograph. <br /> <br />Relative to the Green River, the Yampa River has higher spring and summer <br />water temperatures, and its input of sediment promotes the creation and <br />maintenance of backwater nursery habitats for Colorado squawfish in the Green <br />River. Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam has altered the magnitude, duration, <br />and timing of the spring peak and has increased baseflows in the Green River. <br />This had negative impacts on the nursery habitat for Colorado squawfish. <br />