9609 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I Ruedi 2012 Agreement Final EA Page 1-3 the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program), which remains active today. The goal of the entire Recovery Program is to recover the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail chub in the Colorado River and its tributaries above Lake Powell. In October 1991, the razorback sucker was listed as endangered and in April of 1994, critical habitat was listed for all four Colorado River endangered fish. Critical habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker includes the Colorado River and major tributaries from Rifle to Lake Powell, however the area most affected by Round II contracting is the portion downstream of Rifle to the confluence with the Gunnison River, which includes the 15 Mile Reach. With the 1991 and 1994 listings, Reclamation reinitiated Section 7 consultation on Round II contracting. In May of 1995, Reclamation received a jeopardy Biological Opinion (BO) on the marketing of up to 17,000 of of Round II water. The BO contained two reasonable and prudent alternatives (RPAs) for Reclamation to implement prior to proceeding with Round II water contracts. Reclamation was to: (1) continue the 5,000 of annually and 5,000 of in 4 out of 5 years commitments; and, (2) make the remaining uncommitted portion of the marketable yield (estimated at 21,650 acre feet) available through an interim agreement with the Service and Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) for up to 15 years to enhance flows in the 15 Mile Reach. Reclamation was unable to implement one of the RPAs (an interim agreement to which all parties could agree) so in July 1997 Reclamation reinitiated consultation to develop a new i RPA. In the fall of 1997, water users, environmentalists, Reclamation, and the Service began discussing the elements of a Programmatic Biological Opinion (PBO) to address the effects of all historic depletions affecting the 15 Mile Reach, including those from Ruedi Reservoir. Rather than proceed with developing a separate RPA for the Round II program, Reclamation decided to pursue a new RPA through the PBO process. However, development of the PBO took longer than originally anticipated and west slope water users were urging Reclamation to reinitiate Round II contracting to address immediate water sale needs. As a result, in the spring of 1998 Reclamation again reinitiated consultation with the Service to develop a new RPA for the Round II program. In January 1999, Reclamation received and accepted a final amendment to the May 1995 biological opinion on the Round II program, which allowed contracting for up to 6,135 of to meet immediate needs out of a total projected demand of 17,000 of of Ruedi Reservoir water. Reclamation proceeded with this contracting. In December 1999, agreement was reached and the PBO finalized. The PBO states that, "it is the Service's biological opinion that the proposed action (Reclamation operations) is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bonytail, or humpback chub and is not likely to destroy or adversely modify the designated critical habitat of these species." The PBO addresses the recovery of the four endangered fish in the Colorado River above the confluence with the Gunnison while providing for continued and future water developments in the Colorado River basin above the confluence with the Gunnison River. Reclamation committed to continue to provide 5,000 of per year and 5,000 of in 4 out of 5 years and to seek an agreement to provide up to 21,650 of of Ruedi Reservoir water to the Recovery Program through the year 2012 to improve flows in the 15 Mile Reach. However, the PBO states that when the east and west slope water users dedicate a total of 10,825 of to the Recovery jl J