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<br />I <br /> <br />31 <br /> <br />The Service realizes that emergency events may occur that impact <br />Reclamation's ability to comply with this element of the reasonable and <br />prudent alternative. Where emergency circumstances mandate the need to <br />consult in an expedited manner because Reclamatian .or Western Power <br />determine that they will not be able to conform to the reasonable and <br />prudent alternative for an extended period, consultation may be conducted <br />informally through alternative procedures that the Service determines to <br />be consistent with the requirements of Sectian 7(a}-(d} of the Act. This <br />provision applies to situatians involving acts of God, disasters, <br />casualties, national defense, and security emergencies. If emergency <br />events exceed 20 hours during any month, Western Power will contact the <br />Service ta determine if reinitiatian of Section 7 consultation is <br />necessary and to examine ways .of maintaining flows for the endangered <br />fish. If after informal consultation, a formal consultation is deemed <br />necessary, it shall be initiated as soon as practical after the emergency <br />is under control. Reclamation and Western Power will submit information <br />on the nature of the emergency action(s}, the justification for the <br />expedited consultatian, and the impacts to endangered .or threatened <br />species and their habitats. The Service will evaluate such infarmation <br />and issue a biological opinion including the information and <br />recommendatians given during the emergency consultatian. Western Power <br />will report all short-term emergency events that result in a deviation in <br />the reasonable and prudent alternative on a quarterly basis. <br /> <br />2. Canduct a 5-year research program including implementatian of winter and <br />spring research flows beginning in 1992 to allaw for potential refinement <br />of flows for these seasons., This research program will be based on the <br />Five-Year Flamin9 Gorge Flaw Recommendations Investigation which was <br />approved by the Recovery Program (Appendix B). The program provides far <br />annual meetings to refine seasonal flows based on research findings and <br />water year forecast. Except for specific research flows during the <br />5-year research program, year-round flows in the Green River will <br />resemble a natural hydrograph described under element 1 of the reasonable <br />and prudent alternative. <br /> <br />Research needed to further evaluate the winter/spring flows, flow needs <br />and effects in the lower Green River, and research flows for the summer <br />and autumn periods will be established during an annual caordination <br />meeting between Reclamation, Western Pawer, and the Service in early <br />April after determination of the water year forecast. The Standardized <br />Data Collection Prog~am with suppartive studies for the Green River is in <br />place and will be able to monitor fish response to yearly flaw patterns <br />(contained in the Five-Year Flaming Gorge Flow Recommendations <br />Investigation, Appendix B). Research beginning in 1992 will focus on the <br />winter and spring seasons. Winter research flows will be established so <br />that various conditions ranging from base loading to full peaking power <br />operations can be further evaluated. This will include at least 1 year <br />of stable winter releases at or below 2,000 cfs and 1 year with a spring <br />peak of approximately 18,000 cfs measured at Jensen gage. If hydrologic <br />canditions do not provide a 18,000-cfs spring peak, then jet tube bypass <br />will be utilized. Spring research flows will examine various spring <br />peaks altering the current established spring flow in both magnitude and <br />