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

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Ruedi 2012 Agreement Final EA
The FSES characterizes the Roaring Fork River in the following manner:
Page 3-3
"The Roaring Fork River below the Fryingpan confluence is a boulder- and cobble-
bed channel, which is well incised into the alluvial valley deposits along most of its
length. The channel has adequate capacity for the mean annual flood except in
some low-lying flood plain areas. The streamflows in the Roaring Fork River are
typical of the natural runoff cycle of high mountain watersheds."
The Fryingpan Arkansas Project Operating Principles establish the minimum releases from the
reservoir for the protection of recreational values, including fishing, in the following manner:
During the period from November 1 to April 30, the minimum release from the reservoir is the
lesser of inflow or that which would-produce 39 cfs in the Fryingpan River immediately below
the confluence with Rocky Fork. During the period from May 1 to October 31, the minimum
release from the reservoir is the lesser of inflow or that which would produce 110 cfs in the
Fryingpan River immediately below the confluence with Rocky Fork. These minimums would
only be seen in a very dry year when the reservoir is being operated for filling or retention of
water without making releases for other purposes.
The CWCB also has established minimum instream flows for the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork.
For the Fryingpan, the CWCB minimum instream flows are 39 cfs from November 1 to April 30
and 110 cfs from May to October 31. The CWCB's instream flows for the Fryingpan and
Roaring Fork are junior in priority to the minimum release requirements established for Ruedi.
Table 3.2. CWCB's Established Minimum Instream Flows for the Fryingpan and
Roaring Fork Rivers.
Minimum Instream Flow
River Season
Fryingpan - Rocky Fork Creek to Roaring 5/1-10/31 110.0 cfs
Fork River 11/1-4/30 39.0 cfs
Roaring Fork - Fryingpan to Crystal 4/1-9/30 145.0 cfs
River 10/1-3/31 75.0 cfs
No Minimum Instream Flows
Roaring Fork - Crystal to Colorado River N/A Established
3.1.115 Mile Reach Augmentation Water
The Recovery Program has established target flows for the 15 Mile Reach, which their research
indicates are necessary for recovery of the endangered fish. A range of target flows for each
major season was established to allow the Recovery Program to be responsive to variations in
annual runoff based on snowpack conditions. Consequently, each spring, Recovery Program
personnel review winter snowpack data to characterize the type of runoff year and determine
which 15 Mile Reach target flow is appropriate for the upcoming spring and summer of that
year. The characterization may change during the year in response to changing hydrologic
conditions.
A program known as Coordinated Reservoir Operations (CRO) addresses spring peak flow
targets by attempting to augment the peak flows through voluntarily releasing inflows to
participating reservoirs during a seven to ten day period around the peak. Coordinated Reservoir
Operations is a separate program from the 15 Mile Reach summer augmentation addressed by