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<br />, <br /> <br />Initially, I would say that. we, as an agency, are concerned for potentially <br />adverse impacts to other resources; however, our primary consideration must be <br />the protection and recovery of the listed fish species. Secondly, I would <br />like to qualify my answer since the biological/hydrological report is not yet <br />finalized and the biological opinion is still in preparation. Therefore, <br />final decisions have not been made. <br /> <br />For the last several years constraints have been placed on the summer/fall <br />operation of Flaming Gorge as part of our research effort. To the best of our <br />knowledge. the primary purpose of Flaming Gorge, water conservation. has been <br />unaffected by that constraint. High quality fishing and recreation below <br />Flaming Gorge have continued over those years without noticeable impact due to <br />research flows. In recent years fishing and recreation may have been impacted <br />more by the drought and Reclamation's need to provide only minimum base flows <br />than by any endangered species constraints. Power generation has remained <br />relatively unchanged over the years, however, revenues may have dropped due to <br />constraints which limit Western's flexibility to follow daily changes in <br />demand. It should be pointed out that constraints at Flaming Gorge Dam to <br />provide our research flows do not necessarily mean that we will automatically <br />ask BR/WAPA to provide specific flows at the dam to protect resources <br />downstream at Jensen. Our concern is occupied habitats some 100 miles <br />downstream. Strictly from an endangered fish viewpoint, if BR/WAPA can <br />operate to maximize flexibility and capacity (spinning reserve) at the dam, <br />while meeting our flow requirements some 100 miles downstream, that appears <br />reasonable to us. Moving water from the summer and wihter to the spring <br />months could also reduce power revenues since the value of power during summer <br />