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<br />Powell and eventually be released for use by lower basin states. <br /> <br />Substantial amounts of critical habitat were also designated along the lower Green River below <br />Flaming Gorge Reservoir in Colorado and Utah and along the Colorado River between Lake <br />Powell and Lake Mead. The practical effect of these designations will be to cause the U.S. <br />Bureau of Reclamation to alter its operating plans for those reservoirs. Prior to listing and <br />critical habitat designations, these reservoirs were operated primarily to maximize hydropower <br />production subject to the restrictions of meeting downstream demands and maintaining flood <br />control storage space. This operational regime resulted in relatively constant monthly releases <br />with extreme diurnal fluctuations to provide peaking power for electricity consumers. To <br />provide the constituent elements of critical habitat, however, both Glen Canyon and Flaming <br />Gorge Dams are being reoperated to increase spring releases and decrease fall releases with <br />fewer diurnal fluctuations to provide for breeding habitat for endangered fish.4 These new <br />operating plans will, in turn, affect hydropower production and recreational uses of the river. <br /> <br />Critical habitat was also designated on the Lower Colorado River below Lake Mead. To <br />provide the constituent elements of habitat needed in this area, a different reallocation of <br />resources was needed than for the upper and middle sections of the basin. Along the lower <br />river, the primary threats to endangered fish consist of competition from non-native wann- <br />water fish species and banks ide developments such as recreational vehicle parks that can <br />impinge upon backwaters and spawning areas. In many cases, future game-fish stocking and <br />management programs and stream side developments will be altered or prohibited in critical <br />habitat areas. Thus, the practical effect of designations along the lower river will be to <br />transfer water from recreational to preservation uses. <br /> <br />In the Virgin study area, water is being redirected from the currently dominant use, irrigated <br /> <br />.. Other tributary reservoirs on the Gunnison and San Juan Rivers are also being reoperated to enhance <br />habitat for endangered fish. <br /> <br />9 <br />