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<br />, <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />28 <br /> <br />Razorback Sucker <br /> <br />Fluctuating winter flows with icy conditions may stress overwintering adults, <br />and low, stable flaws near histaric levels are recommended. <br /> <br />REASONABLE AND PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE <br /> <br />1. Refinement of the operatian .of Flaming Garge Dam sa that flow and <br />temperature regimes of the Green River will more closely resemble <br />historic conditions. <br /> <br />Typically, to produce a natural hydragraph and temperature regime, <br />releases from Flaming Gorge Dam must be high in the spring, as warm as <br />possible in early summer, and low and stable throughout the remainder of <br />the year. However, because it is not possible to duplicate the exact <br />flows which existed historically, the Service's recommendations are <br />directed toward maximizing habitat as larval endangered fish enter the <br />drift and ta the fullest extent possible based on the biology of the <br />species and upon the scientific data currently available. Releases <br />needed to produce a natural hydrograph are discussed below in more detail, <br />with regard to timing, magnitude, and duration. Reclamation and Western <br />Power will manitor releases fram Flaming Gorge and flaws at Jensen and on <br />the Yampa River to ensure compliance with this opinion. <br /> <br />Reclamation and Western Pawer will convene coordination meetings with the <br />Service in April and October of each year to review past operations and <br />discuss operation for the upcoming period. These meetings also will be <br />used to examine research flow requests far the upcoming field seasons. <br />Reclamation will prepare, far Fish and Wildlife Enhancement, an annual <br />document detailing compliance with all elements of this reasonable and <br />prudent alternative and detailing releases fram Flaming Gorge Dam and <br />flows at the Jensen, Utah, gage and from the Yampa River. , Reclamation <br />and Western Power will integrate these flows into their annual operating <br />plans to further ensure that this element of the reasonable and prudent <br />alternative is satisfied. The Jensen gage was chosen as a point of <br />measurement because the flows fram Flaming Gorge Dam and the Yampa River <br />are attenuated at this point and endangered fish also are found at this <br />location. <br /> <br />SDri nq <br /> <br />Releases from Flaming Gorge Dam will be patterned after spring flows of <br />the Yampa River. Flaming Gorge releases will be gradually increased <br />beginning between April 1 and May 15 of each year so peak Flaming Gorge <br />releases will match peak runoff from the Yampa River, both in timing and <br />duration, and thereby approximate historic average peak flows at Jensen, <br />Utah. A high release from Flaming Gorge Dam must be provided annually to <br />obtain a target peak flow between 13,000 and 18,000 cfs at Jensen, Utah, <br />sustained for approximately 1 to 6 weeks beginning between May 15 and <br />June 1. To achieve this flow, a release of 4,000-4,700 cfs will be <br />required for the 1 to 6 weeks. The duration of these peak releases will <br />