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<br />Additionally, the CRWCD entered into a contract with Redlands to compensate Redlands for lost <br />hydropower revenues due to the reduced water diversions, and Xce1 Energy Company made <br />temporary modifications to Redlands hydropower contract to make the compensation costs <br />reasonable. <br /> <br />In water year 2002, the Aspinall Unit was operated in cooperation with this shared shortage <br />agreement to provide benefits to water users and fish and wildlife, including endangered fish, while <br />minimizing the draw on unit storage to a reasonable extent. As was formally agreed by all parties, <br />pursuant to the aforementioned agreements, water year 2002 operations were undertaken to lessen <br />the impacts ofthe severe drought conditions to a reasonable extent, and do not establish or set any <br />precedent that such operations will continue or occur again in the future. <br /> <br />In January 2000, a draft report titled, "Flow Recommendations to Benefit Endangered Fishes in the <br />Colorado and Gunnison Rivers" was submitted to the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program - <br />Biology Committee. The report compiles and summarizes the results of research conducted on <br />endangered fish in the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers under the Upper Colorado Recovery Program. <br />This report presents flow recommendations for two different river reaches: one for the lower <br />Gunnison River between Delta and Grand Junction, Colorado, and the other for the Colorado River <br />downstream of the Gunnison River confluence. Based upon comments and objections by numerous <br />parties, these flow recommendations are undergoing additional review. It is anticipated that <br />revisions to the draft report will be completed in late 2002 or early 2003. Following the issuance of <br />final flow recommendations, Reclamation intends to initiate a National Environmental Policy Act <br />compliance process to determine the impacts of the flow recommendations, or a reasonable <br />alternative to them, on Aspinall Unit operations and on other resources associated with the Gunnison <br />River. <br /> <br />On January 17, 2001, the National Park Service, through the Department of Justice, filed an <br />application to quantify the federal reserved water right decreed to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison <br />National Monument. The water right is for flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon <br />of the Gunnison National Park downstream of the Gunnison Tunnel. Reclamation is continuing to <br />work with the National Park Service and Western Area Power Administration, using a daily time <br />step computer model, to evaluate the effects of a reserved water right on Aspinall Unit operations. <br />The model will also be used in conjunction with the State of Colorado's model to analyze the effects <br />of the reserved right and the flow recommendations for endangered fish, once the flow <br />recommendations have been completed. <br /> <br />For water year 2003, the Aspinall Unit will be operated in accordance with the Colorado River <br />Storage Project Act to conserve storage while meeting downstream delivery requirements. Under <br />normal conditions, the minimum release objectives of the Aspinall Unit are to meet the delivery <br />requirements of the Uncompahgre Valley Project, maintain a flow of 300 cfs (8.5 cms) in the <br />Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, and maintain a minimum <br />flow 0000 cfs (8.5 cms) in the 2-mile reach below the Redlands Diversion Dam during the summer <br />months. In dry years, the 300 cfs for the 2-mile reach can be reduced as agreed to by the MOA <br />parties. In extremely dry years, the 300 cfs through the Black Canyon can be reduced to as little as <br />200 cfs, although other downstream requirements such as senior water rights could require more <br />flow. Under the most probable inflow conditions, flows through the Black Canyon ofthe Gunnison <br /> <br />December 13,2002 <br /> <br />12 <br />