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

Ruedi 2012 Agreement Final EA
Page 2-2 1
would be available in each year modeled. The estimated amounts available are presented in
Attachment A.
Fifth, east slope users have committed to releasing 5,412 of for 10 years to the 15 Mile Reach
from William's Fork Reservoir to meet their obligation under the PBO. Similar to the west slope
commitment, if an alternative includes the 5,412 east slope commitment, it is considered to be
wholly available.
Last, Green Mountain Reservoir is currently committed to releasing surplus Historic User Pool
(HUP) water up to the amounts available and necessary to assist in meeting the target flows in
the 15 Mile Reach. The surplus HUP water is released pursuant to conditions set forth in the
settlement of the Orchard Mesa Check Case (Div. 5 case no. 91CW247). On average
approximately 20,000 of of surplus HUP water may be released annually benefiting Grand
Valley water users and the 15 Mile Reach. Improvements to the Government Highline Canal in
the Grand Valley are anticipated to result in an additional 10,000 of of surplus water at Green
Mountain Reservoir. These improvements may be completed as early as late summer of 2003,
and would result in a total of 30,000 of being available to benefit the 15 Mile Reach. Because
these improvements are anticipated to be completed so early in the tenure of the 2012
Agreement, the 30,000 of quantity is used in this analysis to represent Green Mountain
Reservoir's contribution to the 15 Mile Reach. Since the amount of surplus is variable
dependant upon the hydrology of the year modeled, a percent availability dependant upon the
type of runoff year was applied to the 30,000 of of surplus water. The percentages are presented
in Attachment A.
h
Figure 2.1 shows t
e percent of endangered fish releases that each source, Ruedi, Green
Mountain, Wolford Mountain, and Williams Fork Reservoirs, will be contributing under the
various alternatives. The No Action Alternative distribution of releases reflects the anticipated
effects of not entering into the 2012 agreement, described in detail in Section 4.1.
2.1.2 Operational Measures to be Included in all Alternatives
The following operational measures will be implemented as part of each alternative. They are
not intended to mitigate adverse effects of the Proposed Action, but are being implemented to
improve operations of Ruedi Reservoir, to maintain consistency with multiple Project purposes
including enhancement of the Fryingpan River fishery, and to increase the usability of the river
for recreational opportunities.
1. Reclamation will continue to attempt to make release adjustments of no more than 50 cfs
increments when feasible and consistent with multiple Project purposes. This measure
strives to minimize potential impacts of rapidly changing flows on aquatic biota, rescue
activities, recreation interests, and stream bank stability, while providing Reclamation the
operational flexibility to comply with Colorado water law.

2. Reclamation will evaluate the final results of the Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC)
fishery study being conducted by Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. Reclamation will
coordinate with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) to assess recommendations
in the study and work toward implementing those appropriate measures and monitoring
techniques that are feasible and consistent with the multiple Project purposes,