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<br />0022~6 <br /> <br />to SO cfs by June 20, 1990, to minimize adverse effects on the trout <br />fishery. On September 4, 1990, releases were reduced to 31 cfs until <br />October 31, 1990. <br /> <br />An interim operation agreement for operation of McPhee Dam from November <br />1, 1990 through October 31, 1993 (subsequently extended through the <br />present) was executed between Reclamation and the DWCD. The interim <br />agreement provided for alternative dam operation until a long-term <br />solution to the water release and trout fishery issue could be developed <br />and implemented. From November 1, 1990, to the' present, McPhee <br />Reservoir has been operated according to the Inte-im Mc~hee Dam and <br />Reservo~- ODerations Aoreement (lOA), as amended. Key elements of the <br />current lOA rela~ed to water releases for fish and wildlife purposes to <br />the Dolores River are: <br /> <br />. An interim pool of up to 29,300 AF available for release each <br />water year (November 1 to October ~1), The 29,300 AF volume is <br />comprised of: (1) 25,400 AF reserved for fish and wildlife <br />purposes; (2) up to 3,900 AF of senior downstream water rights. <br />(11.5 of October 31, 1993, 80C r.: of water reserved for Totten <br />Reservoir and included in previous versions of the lOA is not <br />available for downstream release.) <br /> <br />. Water releases will be made by the DWCD under direction fro~ <br />Reclamation and in coordination with other federal and state <br />agencies and local interests for fish and wildlife purposes <br />dO\o,-nst=e~ cf McPhee Oar.. <br /> <br />. No deduction woulc. o::::::1.1r froIl'. the 'inter':"::: pool at any time <br />Recl~a~~o~ c~:ec~s a sp~ll ~elease ==o~ M=Phee Reservoi=. <br /> <br />. The inter~ managed pool would not share shortages o:::curring to <br />Projec~ i==igation wate~ users. <br /> <br />operation under tne IDA has allowed releases to the Dolores River to be <br /> <br />rnaintaineci ~~ ~~e 60 to 70 c:s range c= g:ea~er durin9 ~he <br />summer months, and at 30 cfs or higher during the winter. <br /> <br />'.' .. <br />c= .:.::' ~'Ca~ <br /> <br />Since late 1990, Reclamation has coordinated with Project water users, <br />~u, CDOW, the u.S. Fish and Wildl~fe Service (USF&WS), the Bureau of <br />Land Management (B~), the u.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other <br />interested individuals and groups to identify a long-term solution. A <br />Biology Committee comprised of representatives from Reclamation, CDOW, <br />USF&WS, USFS, BLM and (TU) was established to administer the pool of <br />water .reserved for downstream use and to recommend biological studies to <br />de~ermine the flow requirements for a coldwater fishery. Reclamation, <br />CDOy;, and the USFS conducted the--s~udies. Reclamation also reviewed <br />the Project hydrology and the 1977 Project operation study used to <br />evaluate the Project water supply and to allocate Project water. This <br />revie~ revealed a c~screpancy in the volume of Project water reserved by <br />the U~ited States for downstream fish and ~ildlife purposes and the <br />actual vclume of prcject water that wo~ld be re~~~red to meet the <br />cowns~rearr. DPR/FES =elease cr~te=ia. <br /> <br />:< <br />