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<br />fish. This 5,000 acre-feet is provided for instream flows in late summer and <br />early autumn. Four out of every five years an additional 5,000 acre-feet is <br />made available for instream flows from Ruedi Reservoir in late summer and <br />early autumn by modifying operations at Ruedi Reservoir. <br /> <br />For the last 5 years, Reclamation provided 10,000 acre-feet of water to <br />enhance habitat conditions for listed fish species in the IS-Mile Reach. <br />Beginning in 1991, an additional 10,000 acre-feet was provided pursuant to a <br />Memorandum of Agreement among Reclamation, Service, and Board. In total, <br />20,000 acre-feet was released to benefit listed fish species in 1991, 1992, <br />and 1994. Water was not released from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered species <br />purposes in 1993 because flows in the Reach did not drop below 1,200 cfs. <br /> <br />In 1994, the additional 10,000 acre-feet of water was requested by the Service <br />in expectation of adverse hydrologic conditions in the Basin. Based upon <br />lower than normal runoff forecasts for 1994, a base flow of 600 cfs was <br />established by Service biologists. Using this lower flow threshold the <br />Service developed criteria for 1994 releases. These criteria were presented <br />at a public hearing on Ruedi releases held in Glenwood Springs, Colorado in <br />June 1994. The general criteria are listed below: <br /> <br />* The 10,000 acre-feet which was reserved by the Biological Opinion for <br />Ruedi Round II and Green Mountain Water Sales will be released first. <br /> <br />* Releases will be made between August 1 and November 1. During this <br />period, releases will begin when the flows in the IS-Mile Reach drop <br />below 600 cfs for 3 consecutive days. In the past, this has occurred <br />about August 15. Releases will be halted when flow in the Reach exceeds <br />900 cfs for 3 consecutive days. If the flow again falls below 600 cfs <br />for 3 days, the Service will request additional releases. <br /> <br />* Releases will vary between 0 and 225 cfs and will not cause the <br />total flow in the Fryingpan River to exceed 250 cfs. <br /> <br />The requested releases are subject to the following qualifiers: <br /> <br />* There may be occasions when unpredictable weather conditions <br />may cause flows to change rapidly in the IS-Mile Reach and <br />requested flows from Ruedi may not correspond accordingly. <br /> <br />* There may be periods when daily gage data are not available to <br />guide releases. During these periods, the releases will be made <br />based upon the best available data. <br /> <br />* Releases will be halted, if necessary, to respond to emergency <br />conditions on the river. <br /> <br />1994 Chronology <br /> <br />Based upon these criteria, releases began on Friday, July 29, when it was <br />anticipated that flows in the IS-Mile Reach would drop below the target flow <br /> <br />2 <br />