WSP11567

• File Number: 8240.200.38.A
• Description: Coordinated Reservoir Operations
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1999
• Author: CWCB
• Title: 1999 Coordinated Reservoir Operations Bypasses for Endangered Fish - Annual Summary of Operations for 1999 to Benefit the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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UPPER COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY IMPLEMENTA nON PROGRAM
COORDINATED RESERVOIR OPERATIONS
SUMMARY REPORT FOR 1999

I. Introduction

The Water Acquisition Committee (WAC) of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program (Recovery Program) proposed the Coordinated Reservoir Operations Study
(CROS), in 1994. The purpose of this study is to provide water in the IS Mile Reach of the
Colorado River for the benefit of the endangered fish by adding water back to the spring peak.
Recent Recovery Program research resulted in recommendations for spring flows of 12,900 cfs
or greater in the 15 Mile Reach of the Colorado River (USFWS 1995). These flows are
beneficial sediment movement, the scouring of spawning bars and reshaping of the channel to
improve and maintain desirable endangered fish habitat. This report serves as a summary for the
third year of joint reservoir operations with the following reservoir operators and participating
agencIes:

· U.S. Bureau of RecIamation (Bureau)
· Division 5 Engineer's Office
· Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
· Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)
· National Weather Service (NWS)
· Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD)
. Denver Water
· Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District (NCWCD)
· Southeastern Water Conservancy District (SEWCD)
. City of Aurora
. City of Colorado Springs

The objective of CROS is to coordinate bypasses of inflows from various reservoirs resulting in
enhancement of habitat in the IS-Mile Reach of the Colorado River without exceeding the
National Weather Service flood level of 26,600 cfs at Cameo. These bypasses may have passed
through the participating reservoirs during the runoff period. Coordinated reservoir operations
moves those bypasses to the peak of the runoff hydrograph to enhance spring peak flows, which
are important to spawning and improvement/maintenance of aquatic habitat. Coordination and
modification of operations are voluntary and occur within current authorizations and guidelines
and without affecting project yields to either federal or non-federal reservoirs.

The Feasibility Study conducted in 1995 to determine the benefit of these bypasses provided the
following:

. Analysis of potential operational alternatives
· Identification of constraints
· Listing of issues to be addressed by the Recovery Implementation Program (RIP)
· Process of coordination to enhance flows in the Reach.

A unified accounting system for the Colorado River used to account for contributions and

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