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<br />I' / ("(' <br />- Ii i <br />(1,1 /J <br />. <br /> <br />Ift?\ W If!. veS <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Q-??C- <br />/()v,) <br /> <br />Responses by Flaming Gorge Technical Integration Team to April 4, 2000, <br />Minority Report from John Hawkins <br /> <br />Note: Text of minority report is in italics, response in normal text <br /> <br />To: Management Committee, Biology Committee <br />From: John Hawkins <br />Date: Apri/4, 2000 <br /> <br />Subject: Minority Report Regarding: "Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered <br />Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam (hereafter the Flow Report). <br /> <br />Comment: <br />Our biggest concerns with the Flow Report are the numeric ranges of mean base flow magnitude <br />from summer through winter in Reach 2. Our concerns are the numeric range of 900 to 3,000 <br />cft and the apportionment of this range into increments that match the width of each hydrologic- <br />condition exceedance interval as presented in Table 5.5 of the Flow Report. We are not, <br />however, concerned with the qualitative recommendations presented in Chapter 5 that describe <br />the importance of the base flow period. We agree with the benefits of adequate base flow <br />recommendations as described in the Flow Report: <br /> <br />Page 5-15, Section 5.2.2, first paragraph: <br /> <br />"Recommended low base flows in summer should produce suitable conditions in backwaters for <br />growth of Colorado pikeminnow larvae ". <br /> <br />Pages 5-19 & 5-20, Table 5.5, Anticipated Effects: <br /> <br />"Base flows in summer and autumn scaled to the hydrologic condition favor the formation of <br />backwaters and other low-velocity shoreline habitats". <br /> <br />"Higher water temperatures at lower base flows will enhance growth and survival of young <br />endangered fish, especially Colorado pikeminnow. " <br /> <br />"Limiting differences in water temperature between the Green and Yampa rivers at their <br />confluence in Echo Park will prevent cold-shock to Colorado pikeminnow larvae drifting out of <br />the Yampa and into the Green River. Warmer temperatures also will promote better growth of <br />endangered fishes in the upper portion of Reach 2. " <br /> <br />Response: Weare concerned that the authors of the minority report did not comment on the <br />adequacy of the base flow recommendations in our May 1999 report. The recommended base <br />