7282

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7282
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, R. I. P.
• Title: Final Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

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In order to reduce or eliminate the adverse effects of Flaming Gorge's
existing operation on endangered fish species, Reclamation and the Service ,
will undertake the following measures:
a. In water years 1987 through 1988, Reclamation will coordinate with the '
Service and appropriate States to develop an annual flow release
schedule within the operating plan for Flaming Gorge. The objective
will be to provide flow variances during the appropriate spawning
period that are no greater than what occurred in 1980. Different
release patterns could be adopted upon discussion with the Service for
testing or if new information supports a different discharge pattern.
Operation of the reservoir at other times of the year will also take
into account the needs of these fish species.
Reclamation and the Service will make every effort to complete '
Section 7 consultation on operation of Flaming Gorge during 1989. The
parties will develop a release schedule that treats conservation of
endangered fish species as a firm constraint on release patterns from
Flaming Gorge. Upon completion of consultation, Reclamation will
adopt alternatives or recommendations jointly developed with the
Service.
b. Reclamation will conduct studies of the range of operational criteria
that could be used for regulation of the reservoir in order to
maintain beneficial flow/temperature requirements for endangered
fishes. Operational studies may include the impacts of reregulation
of the Green River below Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
4.1.6.3. Blue Mesa Reservoir
Operations of the Blue Mesa Unit on the Gunnison River, initiated in 1967,
have changed the flow regime on the Colorado River which supports one of only
two known spawning populations of humpback chub and is important habitat for
the Colorado squawfish. Reclamation and the Service are presently conducting
studies in the Colorado River below the confluence with the Gunnison to
determine fish and habitat needs and determine project impacts. This
information will be used in Section 7 consultation with Reclamation and other
agencies. The Service and Reclamation will complete Section 7 consultation on
the annual operation of Blue Mesa upon completion of the Flaming Gorge ,
consultation.
In order to reduce or eliminate any adverse impacts from the operations of the
Blue Mesa unit, Reclamation and the Service will undertake the following
measures:
a. They will continue to conduct studies to determine rare fish flow
needs on the Colorado River. The Service will make every effort to
conclude field studies to determine flow needs by the fall of 1987.
The Service and Reclamation will enter into Section 7 consultation on ,
Blue Mesa when consultation on Flaming Gorge is completed or at any
earlier date. Reclamation will adopt the alternatives or
recommendations jointly developed with the Service, upon completion of '
the consultation process, and after discussion with the State.

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