9631

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9631
• Author: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Title: Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Draft Environmental Impact Statement Executive Summary.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City, UT.
• Copyright Material: NO

Biological Opinions and annual updates as well as the designation of critical habitat for
the endangered fishes. Implementation of all Recovery Action Plan recommendations is
expected to achieve recovery of the endangered fishes.
S.5.2 Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge
Dam and the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of
Flaming Gorge Dam on November 25, 1992, stating that the current operation of Flaming
Gorge Dam was likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the endangered fishes in
the Green River. The opinion also described elements of an RPA that, in the opinion of
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would offset jeopardy to the endangered fishes. The
RPA required implementing the following five elements:
(1) Refining the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam so flow and temperature regimes of
the Green River more closely resemble a natural hydrograph.
(2) Conducting a 5-year research program, including implementation of winter and
spring research flows, beginning in 1992, to allow for potential refinement of flows
for those seasons. The research program was to be based on the Flaming Gorge
Flow Recommendations Investigation and called for annual meetings to refine
seasonal flows consistent with research findings and water year forecasts. Except
for specific research flows during the 5-year research program, year-round flows in
the Green River were to resemble a natural hydrograph described under element 1
of the RPA.
(3) Determining the feasibility and effects of releasing warmer water during the late
spring/summer and investigating the feasibility of retrofitting the river bypass tubes
to include power generation, thereby facilitating increased spring releases.
(4) Legally protecting Green River flows from Flaming Gorge Dam to Lake Powell.
(5) Initiating discussions with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, after conclusion of
the 5-year research program, to examine further refinement of flows for the
specified endangered Colorado River fishes.
S.5.3 2000 Flow and Temperature Recommendations
The research program called for in the 1992 Biological Opinion concluded in 1996. At
that time, the Recovery Program funded a synthesis of research and development of flow
and temperature recommendations for the Green River. The final synthesis report
contained the 2000 Flow and Temperature Recommendations, which provide the basis
for Reclamation's Action Alternative analyzed in the DEIS and for additional Section 7
consultation by Reclamation and Western with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Executive Summary 40% S-7