WSP11463 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

002285 2.4 Yampa River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery and Water Management Plan Water users in the Yampa River Basin, as well as representatives from the USFWS, USBR, BLM, Recovery Program, and State of Colorado, initiated discussions on development of a basin-wide water management plan based on the 1995 Hydrosphere Feasibility Report, The discussions explored water management alternatives beyond those documented in the 1995 report, Among the new ideas pursued was transfer of storage held by Yampa Participants (owners of the Craig power plant) in Stagecoach Reservoir for the benefit of Craig III to the enlarged Elkhead Reservoir (as much as 6,000 af). This would allow Yampa River instream flows to be augmented downstream from Stagecoach Reservoir and benefit the entire reach, The power companies who own storage in Stagecoach and Elkhead reservoirs and Steamboat Lake have been willing participants in the discussions; they are seeking permit relief for four power units in the valley that have not yet undergone Section 7 consultation. Subsequent studies to the 1995 report underscored the need for a comprehensive water management plan for the Yampa River Basin to meet present and future needs of both humans and fish, Water users in the basin, the USFWS, USBR, BLM, CWCB, and the CRWCD continue to develop a basin-wide water management plan, 3. ENDANGERED FISH REQUIREMENTS Numerous studies have been completed on the Yampa River over the past ten years related to habitat and flow requirements for endangered fish species, Planning related to managing non-native fish species to enhance the recovery of endangered species has also been completed. This chapter summarizes these studies and discusses the conclusions related to water management on the Yampa River. 3.1 Summary of Previous Studies on Low Flow Requirements Several researchers have conducted studies on habitat and flow requirements of endangered species in the Yampa River. Some of the first studies were conducted by Tyus and Karp (1989) to determine flow needs for rare and endangered fish in the Yampa River based on existing knowledge of the fish at that time, A second study was conducted by Modde and Smith (1995) that provided flow recommendations for endangered fish on the Yampa River, including year-round recommendations from the USFWS, The Colorado Division of Wildlife (Division), in filing for instream flows on the Yampa River, also studied low flow requirements of endangered fish in the Yampa River. Each of these studies has different interpretations of flow requirements for fish during the low flow season, The Division determined that 88 cfs was the minimum flow needed to protect the fish environment. Their methodology measured cross sections of the river and modeled changes in river hydraulics, depth, velocity and width with flow. Subsequent to these studies, researchers, fish biologists and other management agencies, including USFWS and the Division, determined that further information was needed on the impact of late summer flow requirements of the species in the Yampa River. During summer, when irrigation demands are high, river flows can be at their lowest levels, A study of low flow impacts on the riverine environment was initiated to determine flow requirements of each species and what, if any, flow management is required during the summer. This study was Draft 07/28/99 7 Ayres Associates