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<br />protection of flows needed to recover or sustain the endangered fish may affect <br />Colorado's future ability to develop its compact apportionment. The water community <br />shares both these concerns. <br /> <br />The appropriation, acquisition and protection ofinstream flows necessary to protect and <br />recover the endangered fish is important to the success of the Recovery Implementation <br />Program, including the goal of allowing existing and future water development to <br />continue in Colorado in compliance with state and federal law. There has been a high <br />level of frustration among all Program participants in' attempts to appropriate, acquire <br />and protect instream flow for the endangered fish. A number of studies have been <br />pursued to further assist in settling these concerns by further refining the Service's flaw <br />recommendations to gain acceptance by the Board and the water development <br />community for appropriation of instream flow water rights, and meeting the Sufficient <br />Progress requirements of the Recovery Program. Investigations that have been or are <br />currently being conducted for this objective are described below. <br /> <br />R~finement of the Service's Flow Recommendations - The Service is currently <br />conducting verification studies on the 15 Mile Reach to help substantiate its flow <br />recommendations for the October through June period. Additional data collected by <br />this study will contribute to the determinations made regarding future water <br />acquisitions. Further efforts on the Yampa River are dependent on the outcome of the <br />Guru I and Guru II efforts described below. <br /> <br />) "Guru. I" - To further refine the flow recommendations and work out some of the <br />concerns by Recovery Program participants, a senior scientist was retained to (a) <br />complete a comprehensive review of past and ongoing instream flow activities, methods, <br />and studies related to the quantification of the instream flows needed for recovery of <br />these fish, (b) identify technical and non-technical issues related to the instream flow <br />activities and the Services' flow recommendations, and (c) provide recommendations <br />to resolve concerns related to quantifying instream flow needs of the fish. This study <br />is being conducted under the supervision of the Recovery Programs Instream Flow <br />Subcommittee. Study results from this review will assist Program members in their <br />decision making process. Completion of the study is anticipated for July, 1993. <br /> <br />Colorado River Decision Support System - The Board and the State Engineer are <br />developing a Decision Support System which can be used to model the impacts of <br />endangered fish flows on the ability of Colorado to develop its compact apportionment. <br />However this capability will not be available for at least three to four years. <br /> <br />"Guru II" - The purpose of the Guru IT group is to identify and address the legal, <br />institutional, and policy issues associated with the acquisition! appropriation of water for <br />the fish. The group was established by the Water Acquisition Committee, and <br />represents all interests in the Recovery Program. The group has concluded that the <br />uncertain relatianship between protecting the flows needed to recover the endangered <br />fishes and developing Colorado's compact entitlement represents an important concern. <br />Uncertainty by the Board and water users regarding the scientific justification for the <br />Service's flow recommendations was also identified by the group as an important and <br /> <br />3 <br />