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REPORT TO THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD ON 1994 WATER RELEASES FROM RUEDI RESERVOIR FOR ENDANGERED FISH HABITAT IN THE 15-MILE REACH OF THE COLORADO RIVER By George Smith Hydrologist U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service March 1, 1995 Background The reach of the Colorado River between Palisade, Colorado (15-Mile Reach), and the confluence of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers at Grand Junction, Colorado is an important habitat for the endangered Colorado squawfish (squawfish) and razorback sucker. In May of 1989, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) provided recommendations for flow needs of rare fish in the 15-Mile Reach during the summer months (July-September), Summer month recommendations were aimed at providing flows that would optimize adult squawfish physical habitat within the Reach and increase water temperatures during July to promote growth of young squawfish within and downstream of the Reach (Kaeding and Osmundson 1989). Kaeding and Osmundson (1989) recommended that 700-1,200 cfs be provided in the 15-Mile Reach during the July-September period during years of normal, or above normal, precipitation. During dry years, when the flow recommendation would be more difficult to meet, 600 cfs was considered an acceptable lower limit for the flow window. In a later report (Osmundson and Kaeding 1991), the Service recommended extending the same flow recommendations to the end of October for the benefit of adult squawfish. These flow recommendations were reviewed by the staff of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (Board) and ultimately accepted by the Board as being acceptable for appropriating and acquiring water. New flow recommendations for the 15-Mile Reach have been prepared by the Service and are currently undergoing technical review by Board Staff. As a condition of the Biological Opinion on Water Marketing from Ruedi and Green Mountain Reservoirs issued by the Service on June 15, 1987 and commitments in the Recovery Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program), the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) provides releases of water from Ruedi Reservoir and/or Green Mountain Reservoir to enhance habitat conditions for federally-listed endangered fish species. Specifically, these releases are for the benefit of listed fish species in the 15-Mile Reach. In support of the Biological Opinion and Recovery Program, Reclamation reserved 5,000 acre-feet of Ruedi Reservoir water for use by the endangered fish. This 5,000 acre-feet is provided for instream flows in late summer and early autumn, Four out of every five years an additional 5,000 acre-feet is