8249

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8249
• Author: Modde, T., W. J. Miller and R. Anderson.
• Title: Determination of Habitat Availability, Habitat Use, and Flow Needs of Endangered Fished in the Yampa River Between August and October.
• USFW Year: 1999.
• USFW - Doc Type: Project #CAP-9,
• Copyright Material: NO

(Hydrosphere 1995). Because future depletions would be evenly distributed throughout the year and there
is limited existing capacity to store spring runoff waters, the impacts of depletions would likely be
greatest during low-flow periods of the year, exacerbating potential low-flow impacts on fish during the
months of August through October.

I f the anticipated frequency of low in stream flows do not provide adequate protection of endangered fish,
it is incumbent upon the Recovery Implementation Program for the Recovery of the Endangered Fishes of
the Upper Colorado River Basin (RIP) to provide alternatives that promote recovery of affected listed
species. Several options exist to provide adequate low flow protection including purchasing and
converting existing senior water rights to in stream flow rights, and developing water storage to augment
flows during the low flow period. In an effort to address the future water development and recovery
options for endangered fishes in the Yampa Valley, the RIP initiated the Yampa River Basin Endangered
Fish Recovery and Water Management Plan. The goal ofthis plan is "to provide water for existing and
future human needs, to provide and protect the in stream flows and habitat needed to maintain and recover
the endangered fishes, [and] to protect other native fish and wildlife resources in the Yampa River Basin."

As a part of the NEP A process in developing the water management plan, this study was initiated to
define low flow needs (i.e., August through October) of the endangered fishes in the Yampa River for use
by the Yampa River Management team. Whereas the previous interim flow recommendations (USFWS
1990a, Modde and Smith 1995) were based largely on data summaries, this study was designed to collect
data necessary to define flows needed by fish and determine whether water management was necessary to
achieve those flows. Flow needs in this study were defined as those flows that insure habitat needed for
survival of endangered fishes in the Yampa River, as well as those that would insure local and spawning
related migratory movement. This study was not designed to define specific water management
alternatives. In addition, this study relates only to the baseflow period and makes no recommendation as
to the potential trade-offs of storing water during the spring runoff to provide augmentation during the
months of August through October.

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