WSP11381 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- - - _.- - - - - FEDERAL AGENCIES COMMENT LETTER Fork R1YU', a~.'oure. C.teqol'Y J- h~lt.t. ~hleh YOUld include r'IRrv~lr. luch al RUld! are defined I' habitat of hlqh to ~.dlu. v.~~e lor evaluation ,plci.. and 1. relatively abundant on a national b..l.. The altlqatlon 9011 tor Relource Caclqory 2 hAblt~ " -no nit 101' of habitat value uhil. mlnlnlz1nq loa. ot 1n4 Ind D.~lt.t ~.l~'~, Our qo&l 1n this particular el.. uould bl to a1n1.1al to thl ..tant pOI.tble, the l~p.et. of vaCI.. ..la on the Hah...,. 1n the Rued1 Ra..rvolr. I B..ed on thl &bOVI dltltainltionl, thl Flah and Hildli!. ! ..vice "Ico.aanda that thl fl1hlr7 value of the Frylnqpln Rlve.. 14th. ROlrinq Fork Rive.. bl ..int.ined It ita pra'lnt value. To. 1-20 accomplish thia, it ~7 ba n.c......, to develop an a~4itio a1 a1tlrnatlv. 'Dpha.izlnq li.h.ry llouI. It woul~ app.ar th t th.r. are lulllci'nt buy.r. avallabl. to dev.lop I b.tt.r alternat.iv. [o'C'..th. prot.ction 01: [lIh and 'W'11o.l1!.. rl'lourc... Th. rl.h and Hil~lil' '.rviC' and the Colorado Divilion Oll Wildlit. would b. pl.aled to work With your .~ency to d.v. op a ain!mua and maxIDu. llow .chldul. thAt 'Would prot.ct the . iltlnq habitat o! the Frylnqpan Riv.r ~hl1. allowinq [or wat.r la " trom RUldi R...rvoir. ~(/ CCI rH9/HR R.qional Orrice fHS/ES Colorado Subol!!c, ~/SE Salt Lak. City. UT. C'C'and Junction COOH. D.n.'r. Colorado 'prinq.. Crand Junction. Dan Codd.n. Ba.alt Colorado - - - - - - - - . RESPONSE - - 1-20: The Ope rat i ng Pri nc i P 1 es for Rued i Reserv01 r provide for minimum streamflows to protect the Fryi ngpan Ri ver fi shery. Under the proposed operation associated with the Preferred Alterna- tive, releases would respond to water demands that are associated with supplementing existing water supplies on the Colorado River, The result is a more uniform supply of water on the Colorado River but more variation in streamflow levels on the Fryingpan River. Since construc- tion of Ruedi Reservoir, the natUral fluctuation on the Fryingpan River has been greatly reduced and has benefited the fishery as a result. By reintroducing variation associated with water sales, it is not felt that the fishery has been placed at risk. The change in fishery condi- tions constit~tes the completion of the tran- sition of the reservoir operation to accomplish the primary objective, water supply. Potent i a 1 users of Ruedi Reservoi r water are relying heavily on the availability of stored water to meet their water supply requirements. The nature of the water supply on the Colorado River and the demands characteristic of munici- pal and i ndustri a 1 water users dictate the releases of water from Ruedi Reservoir. These users will take up to a 30 percent shortage during dry years, and this reduction in demand helps to reduce the variation in streamflow in the Fryingpan River. o 0') "', fv .. ~ ~ ~ w