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

refine the plan to best meet the needs of the endangered fish. Reclamation would comply
with ESA Section 7 consultation requirements and may make refinements to the plan
based on the comments from the Technical Working Group. Reclamation could then
present the new plan to the Flaming Gorge Working Group for additional comments.
Reclamation could further refine the plan based on information gathered at the Flaming
Gorge Working Group Meeting. This process would ensure that the 2000 Flow and
Temperature Recommendations and the authorized purposes of Flaming Gorge Dam are
considered in a balanced and fair manner as the operational plan is developed.
Reclamation's meetings with the Technical Work Group would also provide an
opportunity to discuss historic operations in terms of the accomplishments and
shortcomings of meeting the 2000 Flow and Temperature Recommendations.
Reclamation would maintain an administrative record of these meetings to document the
planning process.
S.13.3.1 Operations in May Through July (Spring Period)
Under the Action Alternative, Reclamation would establish a hydrologic classification for
the spring period (May through July) based on the April through July forecasted
unregulated inflow volume. This forecast is issued by the River Forecast Center
beginning in early January and is updated twice per month until the end of July. During
the spring period, Reclamation would classify the current hydrology of the Green River
system into one of the five hydrologic classifications described in the 2000 Flow and
Temperature Recommendations (wet, moderately wet, average, moderately dry, and dry).
Table S-3 describes the percent exceedance ranges that would be used for each
classification under the Action Alternative.
Table S-3.-Percentage Exceedances
and Hydrologic Classifications
Percentage
Hydrologic Exceedance
Classification Range
Wet <10
Moderately Wet 30 to 10.1
Average 70 to 30.1
Moderately Dry 90 to 70.1
Dry >90
The hydrologic classification would be used to establish the range of flow magnitudes
and durations that could potentially be targeted for the approaching spring release period.
These targets would be incorporated into a spring operations plan. This plan would
be prepared each year by Reclamation under consultation with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and Western and in coordination with the Technical Working Group
before the spring Flaming Gorge Working Group meeting. The factors listed in table 5.3
of the 2000 Flow and Temperature Recommendations (shown as table S-4), along with
the established hydrologic classification, would be considered in the development of the
operations plan.
Executive Summary -2- S-23