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~ ..- Rod Kuharich, Director 2 The large amount of water released from Green Mountain Reservoir was partially the result of the Recovery Program retrofitting the Grand Valley Project canal system in Western Colorado with canal checks and automation, which reduced irrigation diversions by 16% or 45,000 af in 2002 and 12% or 33,000 afin 2003. These reductions surpassed expectations of28,000 afin average years. These improvements are tied to water releases from the HUP in Green Mountain Reservoir, which the HUP Managing Entities Group oversees. This coordinated process plays a major role in managing water resources to meet human and endangered fish needs. Construction on the Highline Lake pump station is expected to be completed by early summer of2004. This will complete the last component of Grand Valley Water Management, allowing optimum use of Grand Valley Project water. Benefit of Maintaining Target Flows. Service biologists believe that maintaining the flow regimes necessary to support endangered fish is very important, particularly in dry years like 2002 and marginal years like 2003 when conditions are particularly stressful to endangered fish. The flow recommendations were designed to maximize the amount of optimum habitat for adult fish and, thereby, increase the river's carrying capacity. Responses of the fish community to flow augmentations are difficult to quantifY on a short-term basis. As a result, the new long-term lease has simplified a reporting requirement and the enclosed documents are being provided to you and HUP participants to fulfill the lease requirement. List of Documents: 2003-2004 Program Highlights http:// coloradoriverrecovery .fws.gov /publicpages/ProgramHighlights2003- 2004. pdf Recovery Programs Directors's Update March 2004 http:// coloradoriverrecovery .fws.gov /publicpages/update21.pdf Recovery Program Director's Update September 2003 http://www .r6 .fws .gov /crrip/ doc/PDupdate20. pdf Recovery Programs Winter 2003 Swimming Upstream Newsletter Link http://mountain-prairie.fws.gov /coloradoriver/winter03. pdf The Service and Recovery Program continue to believe that flow augmentation from Ruedi, Green Mountain, Wolford, and Williams Fork reservoirs have been an important step in improving habitat conditions in the 15-Mile-Reach and in reaches downstream. A Recovery Program representative will be available, if requested by the Board staff, to attend the May Board meeting to address any questions or concerns the Board may have. Please contact George Smith at 303-236-4485 if you would like someone at your May meeting.