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insight into which habitats are preferred. At this time, the only practicable approach for <br />developing recommendations for summer and winter flows is to use information collected <br />from the Grand Valley as a surrogate for more reach-specific information. However, one <br />limitation to this approach is that razorback sucker habitat preference was not learned in <br />prior studies in the Grand Valley because few habitat-use data were available from reaches <br />where mesohabitats were later mapped. Habitat preferences of Colorado pikeminnow <br />derived from the 15-mile reach can be used, but, the necessary mapping of meso-habitats <br />(riffles, pools, eddies, etc.) at base flow levels in the Palisade-to-Rifle reach has been very <br />limited. Such mapping is needed to discern at what discharge preferred habitat types are <br />maxi 'Zed (see approach used by Osmundson et al. [1995] for recommending base flows in <br />the 15-'mile reach). In the interim, it is assumed here that flow levels that maximize these <br />habitats in the subject reaches will be similar to those that do so in the 15-mile reach. <br />The current practicality of implementing summer flow recommendations in these <br />reaches is particularly problematic due to the local diversions of water for irrigation and <br />power ;production. The senior water rights associated with these diversions will necessarily <br />dictate''! a minimum amount of water delivered through these two reaches, particularly during <br />the irrigation season. When this amount is added to the amount already recommended for <br />endangered fish habitat in the 15-mile reach, the minimum delivery amount may be more or <br />less than the flow level that most benefits endangered fish within these reaches. Assuming <br />that these senior water rights will continue to be exercised and the amounts diverted remain <br />constant, any lowering or raising of flows in the subject reaches will also be experienced <br />downstream in the 15-mile reach. Thus, senior diversion rights and endangered fish flows in <br />the 15-mile reach place constraints on flexibility of flow management in the reaches <br />upstream of the diversions, particularly during late summer and early fall. This report <br />provides recommendations for summer and winter flows in the Palisade-to-Rifle reaches <br />based on what is considered best for the endangered fish within these reaches and then <br />discusses the current constraints imposed on implementing these recommendations. <br />In determining optimum spring flows, Osmundson and Kaeding (1991) concluded <br />that the greatest value of high flows, typical of spring, was the year-round benefits provided <br />by the scouring and flushing action of the flood waters (i.e., channel maintenance, removal <br />6