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<br />, <br /> <br />32 <br /> <br />duratian. Fish access to .off-channel habitats during years with high <br />spring peaks will need improvement and should be provided concurrent with <br />the research flows. In years where specific research flows are not <br />established, winter and spring flows will be those outlined in element 1 <br />of the reasonable and prudent alternative. <br /> <br />Part of the 5-year research plan will be to evaluate the year-round <br />seasonal flaw recommendation throughout the entire Green River. At the <br />conclusian .of the 5-year research peri ad, flow recammendations will be <br />extended from the dam ta lake Pawell. <br /> <br />3. Determine the feasibility and effects .of releasing warmer water during <br />the late spring/summer period and investigate the feasibility of <br />retrofitting river bypass tubes to include power generation, thereby <br />facilitating higher spring releases. <br /> <br />The change in water temperatures as a result .of impoundments is believed <br />to be one of the causes for the decline in rare and endangered fish <br />throughout the Colorado River Basin. Water temperature was shown to <br />influence spawning migrations, spawning, egg viability, larval survival, <br />feeding, and growth .of endangered fish. Providing warmer water during <br />critical life histary periods could further benefit the affected fish. <br />Reclamation will complete these examinations during the 5-year research <br />program. If technologies exist or future technologies become available <br />which make these alternatives feasible, then Reclamatian should enter <br />into discussions with the Service concerning implementatian. <br /> <br />4. legal protection of Green River flows from Flaming Gorge Dam to lake <br />Powell. <br /> <br />Protection of flows for the endangered fish is a major element of the <br />Recovery Program (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). Section 4.1.3 of <br />the Recovery Program states that "the success of this recovery program is <br />contingent upon the provision of water rights for instream flows that <br />satisfy the requirement of the Endangered Species Act." Specifically, <br />the Recovery Program cantains commitments from the States of Colorado and <br />Utah to work with the Secretary of the Interior to legally protect the <br />instream flows necessary for recovery .of the endangered fish. legal <br />protection .of flows also is identified as a requirement for delisting in <br />the Colorado squawfish and humpback chub recovery plans (U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service 1991; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990a). <br />Additionally, releases from Flaming Gorge are the reasonable and prudent <br />alternative/conservation measure identified to offset the actual or <br />potential depletion impacts assaciated with the Strawberry System; the <br />Jensen, Uintah, the Upalco Units of the Central Utah Project; the Price- <br />San Rafael Salinity Contral Project; and the Narrows Project, as <br />described in the bialogical opinions for these projects. Consequently, <br />development of a legal mechanism to ensure that the releases from Flaming <br />Gorge Dam are delivered to and available for use by the endangered fish <br />in occupied habitat from Swallow Canyon, near Browns Park National <br />Wildlife Refuge, downstream to lake Powell, is necessary to satisfy all <br />of these needs. Inflows from the Yampa River, White River, and other <br />