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<br />Status of Recovery Actions bv Pro~ram Element <br /> <br />I. Instream Flow Identification and Protection <br /> <br />Goal: To protect sufficient instream flows to support self-sustaining populations of the <br />endangered fishes. <br /> <br />Status: <br /> <br />· The final report entitled Flow Recommendations to Benefit Endangered Fishes <br />in the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers was signed by the Service on July 29, <br />2003. The document is available on the Recovery Program participants' <br />website at http://www.r6.fws.gov/crrip/doc/GunnCoflowrec.pdf, and printed, <br />bound copies are available. Reclamation has begun modeling operations of the <br />Aspinall Unit and is developing alternatives to meet the flow recommendations <br />while meeting other authorized purposes. Public scoping meetings for the EIS <br />on Aspinall reoperations were held February 24-26, 2004. <br /> <br />· The Phase II report on development of a model to explore structural and <br />operational measures to increase water temperature in the Gunnison River <br />downstream from Delta will be submitted for peer and Biology Committee <br />review in March 2004. <br /> <br />· The Grand Valley Project canal system in western Colorado was retrofitted <br />with canal checks and automation, which reduced irrigation diversions by 16% <br />or 45,000 acre-feet (at) in 2002 and 12% or 33,000 afin 2003. These <br />reductions surpassed expectations of28,000 afin average years. <br /> <br />These improvements are tied to water releases from the Historical Users Pool <br />(IiuP) in Green Mountain Reservoir, which the Managing Entities Group <br />oversees. This coordinated process plays a major role in managing water <br />resources to meet human and endangered fish needs. Construction on the <br />Highline Lake pump station is expected to be completed by early summer of <br />2004. This will complete the last component of Grand Valley Water <br />Management, allowing optimum use of Grand Valley Project water. <br /> <br />· Recognizing the low carryover storage in the Upper Colorado River Basin <br />reservoirs and generally drier than average conditions in 2003, the Service <br />initially set the target flows for the IS-Mile Reach at 250 cfs. However, this <br />target was increased to 450 cfs on August 7., 810 cfs on August 28, and finally <br />to 1,240 cfs on September 18, as hydrologic conditions improved in the basin <br />and it became evident that additional surplus HUP water was available from <br />Green Mountain Reservoir. <br /> <br />A total of 72,103 af of water was released to support late-summer target flows. <br />This total included 47,526 affrom Green Mountain, 20,534 affrom Ruedi, and <br />3,757 affrom Williams Fork. Wolford Mountain was drawn down to record <br /> <br />3 <br />