14d

• Board Meeting Date: 9/17/2008
• Description: Director's Report - CWCB Director
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

USFWS therefore has requested a "Selenium Reduction Program" (SRP) be included as part of any PBO.
The cost of a SRP will be extremely expensive, particularly if has to meet the existing standard of 4.6
microgramslliter.
The USFWS maintains that an SRP is needed in order to achieve recovery of the fish and that failure to
reduce selenium levels to the standard will result in a "take" of endangered fish under Section 9 of the
ESA. The USFWS maintains that elevated selenium levels prevent survival of larval fish, however, there
does not appear to any conclusive evidence to that affect. Selenium concentrations in the Gunnison River
have been above the standard for many years and there have been no claims of adverse impacts to
endangered fish prior to this.
Furthermore, there is already a SRP of sorts being implemented in the Uncompahgre Basin and while
under funded it is having positive results. Staff is working with water users on a proposal to present to
Reclamation in hopes that Reclamation and the USFWS will find it acceptable for inclusion in the PBO.
(Randy Seaholm)
RECOVERY GOALS FOR ENDANGERED COLORADO RIVER FISH: The USFWS is
updating the 2002 recovery goals for the four endangered fishes of the Colorado River Basin. The 2008
updates to the recovery goals were developed as an amendment and supplement to the recovery plan for
each species and focus on the requirements of Section 4(~(1)(B) of the ESA. This Section requires the
Secretary of Interior incorporate into each plan site-specific management actions; objective, measurable
criteria; and estimates of the time and costs to carry out the measures needed to achieve the plan's goals
and to take immediate steps toward that goal. The recovery goals have been updated to include
significant new information in four maj or areas:
• Inclusion of language that discusses "significant portion of range" as opined by the Department of
Interior solicitor (Section 2.1)
• Inclusion of a brief discussion on "effects of climate change" (Section4.5.2)
• Inclusion of estimates of time and costs to achieve recovery (Section 5.4)
• Based on new information, the minimum viable population (MVP) for Colorado Pikeminnow was
changed from 2,600 to 2,800 (Section3.3.2)
These updates are only being reviewed by the seven states and key stakeholders by way of existing
conservation programs at this time. After comments from the seven states and key stakeholders are
addressed, the draft recovery goals will be released for public comment through the Federal Resister.
(Randy Seaholm)
UPPER COLORADO RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM -15-MILE REACH
ACCOUNTING: Pursuant to the Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO) for the 15-Mile Reach of
the Colorado River above the Gunnison River confluence an accounting of depletions above the reach is
required every 5 years. The first PBO depletion accounting report is now in final draft. The report shows
that there was no increase in consumptive uses above the 15-Mile Reach during the period 2001-2005.
The 2001-2005 average total consumptive use was calculated to be 987,200 AF per year, while the
average from 1971-2005 was 1.029 MAF, and the average for 1971-2000 was 1.03 59 MAF per year. The
small decline can be attributed in part to the recent drought and water conservation efforts. Please note
that only actual uses, not conditional uses or consultations, are reflected in these computations. Since the
implementation of the Recovery Program, there have been consultations on more than 350 actual projects
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