|
I
<br />FONSI-Ruedi 2012 Agreement Mu 2003
<br />
<br />uncommitted portion of the marketable yield (estimated at 21,650 acre feet) available through an agreement
<br />with the Service and the CWCB for up to 15 years to enhance flows in the 15 Mile Reach. Reclamation
<br />was unable to implement the second RPA (an agreement to which all parties could agree). Consequently, in
<br />July 1997, Reclamation reinitiated consultation to develop a new RPA. In the fall of 1997, water users,
<br />environmentalists, Reclamation, and the Service began discussing the elements of a Programmatic
<br />Biological Opinion (PBO) to address the effects of all historic depletions affecting the 15 Mile Reach,
<br />including those from Ruedi Reservoir, using this process to develop new RPAs. An amended BO
<br />incorporating a new RPA was finalized in January 1999.
<br />In December of 1999, the PBO (which takes precedence over the January 1999 amended BO) was finalized
<br />and issued to Reclamation. The PBO discusses Reclamation's commitment to provide 5,000 of per year
<br />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
<br />water to the Recovery Program through the year 2012 in order to improve flows in the 15 Mile Reach.
<br />However, the PBO states that when the west and east slope water users dedicated 10,825 of to the Recovery .
<br />Program, Reclamation's commitment would be reduced from 21,650 of to 10,825 of of Ruedi Reservoir
<br />water. In 2000, west and east slope water users committed 10,825 of of water to the Recovery Program, so
<br />Reclamation's commitment to the Recovery Program is currently 10,825 of annually. Additionally, the
<br />PBO provides that when an agreement is signed committing Reclamation to make 10,825 of of Ruedi water
<br />available to enhance flows in the 15 Mile Reach through 2012, Reclamation may contract for the remainder
<br />of the 17,000 af. Finally, per the PBO, with the water users providing their 10,825 af, Reclamation may
<br />contract for the other half of the 21,650 of original commitment (the half not committed in the 2012
<br />Agreement described below), if demand materializes and new depletions allowed under the PBO will not
<br />be exceeded.
<br />PREFERRED ALTERNATIVE
<br />Reclamation evaluated the effects of four alternatives: 1) The No Action Alternative - Reclamation does
<br />not execute the 2012 Agreement, reverts to the provisions of the January 1999 amended BO, and Round II
<br />contracting is limited to 6,135 af; 2) Alternative A - Reclamation executes the 2012 Agreement to make
<br />10,825 of available for endangered fish through the year 2012; 3) Alternative B - Reclamation executes the
<br />2012 Agreement and also makes 5,412 of available approximately 1 out of 10 years to meet the west slope
<br />water users' interim commitment; and 4) Alternative C - Reclamation executes the 2012 Agreement and
<br />also makes an additional -10,825 of available for endangered fish. Reclamation has selected Alternative B
<br />as the alternative to implement.
<br />By implementing Alternative B, Reclamation would enter into the 2012 Agreement with the CWCB and
<br />the Service to make 10,825 of of water available annually, through the year 2012, for release from the
<br />marketable yield of Ruedi Reservoir. The water released pursuant to the 2012 Agreement will be delivered
<br />to the 15 Mile Reach of the Colorado River for summer and fall base flow augmentation. Alternative B
<br />also allows the west slope water users' interim commitment of 5,412 af, to be supplied from unused
<br />contracted water or available uncontracted water within the marketable yield of Ruedi Reservoir. The
<br />water would be made available through a one-year temporary water service contract. This need is estimated
<br />to arise 1 out of 10 years, or 10% of the time.
<br />The Recovery Program has established target flows for the 15 Mile Reach, relying on multiple water
<br />sources, including Ruedi, to supplement flows. The Service established a range of target flows which are
<br />based on estimated annual runoff and snowpack conditions. Consequently, each spring Recovery Program
<br />personnel review winter snowpack data to characterize the type of runoff year and determine which 15
<br />Mile Reach target flow is appropriate for that year.
<br />Reclamation will generally release water upon the request of the Service between early July and late
<br />October of each year up to the amount needed to contribute toward meeting target flows in the 15 Mile
<br />Reach. The amount, timing, and rate of the releases will be determined by Reclamation in consultation
<br />with the Service. The Service and Reclamation will consult with CWCB during the release period.
<br />iii I
|