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11 FO SI-Ruedi 2012 Agreement May 2M The current forty-year agreement between Reclamation and the CWCB to provide up to 10,000 of of water per year (5,000 of annually and 5,000 in of 4 out of 5 years) for the 15 Mile Reach will remain in full force and effect when the Preferred Alternative is implemented. OPERATIONAL MEASURES Reclamation recognizes that opportunities exist to develop operational measures that respond to concerns raised during the public scoping and comment period. The following are identified in the final EA as operational measures common to all of the alternatives. Implementation of these measures will improve operations at Ruedi Reservoir to maintain consistency with multiple Project purposes. 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. 3. In an effort to address concerns of decreased wadeability of the Fryingpan River when flows exceed 250 cfs, efforts will be made to limit cumulative flows to 250 cfs or less when consistent with the multiple Project purposes and reasonable to do so; so long as future fishery research d oes not indicate that flows in excess of 250 cfs are important for Fryingpan or Roaring Fork River fishery maintenance or enhancement. FINDINGS During the environmental review process, potential effects from the Preferred Alternative were identified, either by the general public, other agencies, or Reclamation staff. Reclamation used potential effects to help focus the environmental review process, to structure the EA, and to identify opportunities for mitigating or avoiding adverse effects from the Preferred Alternative. HYDROLOGY Erosion and Scour: Neither fluctuations in release quantities nor maximum release rates in association with the Preferred Alternative are anticipated to differ significantly from those experienced over the past fourteen years of endangered fish releases. Modeled release patterns are not outside the typical fluctuations in the drainage and would not be expected to accelerate erosion. Additionally, during higher releases of 250-350 cfs, the velocities created are not anticipated to significantly increase scour of the streambed. Water Contracts: As a result of the 2012 Agreement, the amount of water available to Ruedi Round II contractors will expand from 6,135 of to 17,000 af. Also per the PBO, an additional 10,825 of will be available for contracting if demand materializes and new depletions allowed under the PBO have not been exceeded. Implementing the Preferred Alternative will result in up to 5,412 of per year less water being available approximately 1 out of 10 years. AQUATIC WILDLIFE Sport Fisheries: No significant impacts to the fisheries of the Fryingpan or Roaring Fork Rivers are anticipated as a result of implementing the Preferred Alternative, nor are future or cumulative effects anticipated. The Preferred Alternative will not increase the occurrence of large flow fluctuations on the, i v