BOARDJAN01

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2001
• Description: Colorado River Interim Surplus Guidelines Final Environmental Impact Statement
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Other

.

.

.

3.

Aquatic Resources

Reclamation will irlitiate a temperature IlDnitoring program below Hoover Dam with state
and other Federal agencies to document temperature changes related to baseline
conditions am impEmentation of interim surplus guidelines am assess their potential
effects on listed species and the sport fishery. The existing hydro lab below Hoover Dam
will be modified as necessary to provide this temperature data.

4. Special Status Species

Reclamation will implement the following conservation measures for Razorback sucker in
Lake Mead and native fISh in Lake Mohave:

I.

Reclamation will continue to provide funding am support for the ongoing Lake
Mead Razorback Sucker study. The lOcus will be on locating populations of
razorbacks in Lake Mead from the lower Grand Canyon (Separation Canyon) area
downstream to Hoover Dam, documenting use and availability of spawning areas
at various water elevations, claritYing substrate requirements, monitoring potential
nursery areas, contiIllling ageing studies and confirnling recruitment events that
may be tied to physical conditions in the lake. The expanded program will be
devebped within 9 months of sign~lg the BO and implemented by January 2002.
Initial studies will extend for 5 years, followed by a review and determination of
the scope of studies for the remaining 10 years of the Interim Surplus Guidelines
(ISG). Reclamation will use the bathymetric surveys, to be conducted in fIScal
year 2001, to gather data in the areas of the identified spawning habitat, unot
already available;

2.

Reclanlation will to the maximum extent practicable provide rising spring
(February through April) water surfuce elevations of5-1 0 feet on Lake Mead, to
the extent hydrologic conditions allow. Hydrologic studies imicate that such
conditions could occur once in 6 years, although no guarantee of frequency can be
made. This operatim plan will be pursued through BHBFs and/or equalization
and achieved thro ugh the Adapt ive Management Pro gram and Annu al Opera ting
Plan processes, as needed for spawning razorback suckers;

3.

Reclamation will continue existing operations in Lake Mohave that benefit native
fISh during the 15-yeareffective period of these Guidelines and will explore
additional ways to provide benefits to native fish; and,

4.

Reclamation will monitor water levels of Lake Mead from February through April
of each year during the 15 years these Guidelines are in place. Should water levels
reach 1160 feet because of the implcmentation of these Guidelines, Reclamation
will implement a program to collect and rear larval razorbacks in Lake Mead the

14