9609

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9609
• Author: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
• Title: Ruedi Reservoir 2012 Agreement Final Environmental Assessment Fryingpan-Arkansas Project.
• USFW Year: 2002.
• USFW - Doc Type: Loveland, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

1

CHAPTER 1 -PROJECT SCOPE
1.1 Background
The Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (Project) is a multi-purpose, trans-basin water diversion and
delivery project located in Colorado. The Project diverts water from the Fryingpan River, and
other tributaries of the Roaring Fork River, on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains to the
Arkansas River basin on the eastern slope.
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) completed construction of Ruedi Reservoir, the initial
feature of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, in 1968. A portion of the storage available in Ruedi
Reservoir was intended to be used for the benefit of west slope water users; therefore
Reclamation initiated a water-marketing program to contract available water for west slope water
uses. In 1982, Reclamation concluded the first round (Round I) of Ruedi Reservoir water sales.
In response to additional demand in the late 1980's, Reclamation initiated action to provide
additional water sales through the Ruedi Reservoir Round II Water Marketing Program (Round
II). The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), through formal Section 7 consultation with
Reclamation, issued an opinion stating Round II would not jeopardize the continued existence of
the endangered Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, or bonytail chub provided certain
conservation measures were implemented. Specifically, Reclamation was to fund additional
research and make 5,000 acre-feet (af) of water available annually and 5,000 of available in 4 out
of 5 years through reregulation from Ruedi Reservoir to enhance flows in the 15 Mile Reach of
the Colorado River (15 Mile Reach). The 15 Mile Reach extends from the confluence of the
Gunnison River upstream 15 miles to the Grand Valley Irrigation Company Diversion Dam near
Palisade, Colorado (Figure 1.1). This commitment was documented in the Ruedi Reservoir,
Colorado, Round II Water Marketing Program Final Supplement to the Environmental Statement
(FSES) and Record of Decision (January, 1990).
In 1988, the Secretary of the Interior, Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration,
and the Governors of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming signed a cooperative agreement establishing