8056

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8056
• Author: Hamill, J.
• Title: Restoring and Protecting Instream Flows for Endangered Fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1992.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

process. In addition, the Colorado River Energy Distributors
Association is a nonvoting member of the Recovery Program.

The purpose of the Recovery Program is to recover the endangered
fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin while allowing for new
water development to continue, consistent with the Endangered
Species Act. Geographically, the Recovery Program includes the
Upper Colorado River Basin, excluding the San Juan River
(Figure 1). The goal is to recover the four endangered fish in
the upper basin by establishing self-sustaining populations and
protecting the natural habitat upon which those populations
depend. The Recovery Program contains five principal elements or
strategies for achieving this goal: (1) habitat management
(provision of instream flow); (2) habitat development and
maintenance; (3) stocking of native fish; (4) nonnative species
and sport fishing; and (5) research, monitoring, and data
management. The program provides for a budget of approximately
$60 million over a IS-year timeframe. It is important to note
that the success of the Recovery Program will not be achieved
solely by the provision of instream flows, but rather on the
successful implementation and integration of all five of the
recovery elements.

The Recovery Program outlines a four-step process for acquiring
and/or restoring adequate instream flows to support self-
sustaining populations of the endangered fish:

1. Priority areas for acquisition of water rights are
defined;

2. The instream flows necessary for recovery of the fish
are defined by the Service;

3. The operation of several Federal reservoirs including
Flaming Gorge, Blue Mesa, and Ruedi Reservoirs is
adjusted to meet the instream flow requirements of the
fish; and

4. Water and water rights are acquired and/or appropriated
to provide flows for the endangered fish in a manner
consistent with State water law and Interstate Compacts.

Following is a discussion of the progress and issues that have
emerged in each of these areas since the inception of the
Recovery Program in 1988.

3