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I CONE/KS/UT-CR FY-99 Rivers:UCR:Ruedi Reservoir releases Mail Stop 65115 Peter Evans, Director Colorado Water Conservation Board ' 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 FEB 8 1998 ' Dear Peter: The Colorado Water Conservation Board (Board) has requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service ' (Service) report on the water released in 1998 from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish. This letter responds to that request, and also serves as a concluding report to fulfill the Service's contractual obligation with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). This year the report covers releases from Ruedi and Wolford Mountain Reservoirs and the effects of the releases in the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado. ' In summary, 1998 was a moderately dry year, with a slightly below average runoff season followed by relatively low flows in late summer. The target flow for August, September and October was 1,240 cfs based upon the Services flow recommendations for an 80% exceedance year. Subsequent to ' the approval of a water delivery contract between Reclamation, CWCB and the Service, 31,650 acre feet of water was available from Ruedi and 6,000 acre feet available from Wolford Mountain Reservoir. When flows began to decline in late August, the HUP Managing Entities began to meet and discuss flow conditions. By August 26, flows at the top of the Reach had dropped to 1,360 cfs and were continuing to fall. The Service then informed Reclamation that Ruedi water was needed in order to meet the fish target flows. Releases from the 5,000 BO pool in Ruedi Reservoir began on August 28, 1998, and continued for 67 days as water from other pools became available. Ruedi releases ended on October 31, 1998. During that period, a total of 20,798 acre feet of water was released from Ruedi Reservoir that was accounted to endangered fish purposes. Because of the restrictions of 250 to 300- cfs on the Fryingpan River below Ruedi Reservoir not all of the 31,560 acre feet that was available could be' used in 1998 (an accounting of the release data is attached). During the late summer period (August 26 to September 25), an additional 6,000 acre feet of water was released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir for endangered fish in accordance with the Wolford Mountain Reservoir Biological Opinion. Subsequent to September 25, an additional 5,500 acre feet of water was released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir to help meet the target flows while reducing the impact on the Fryingpan River, see Figure I and Table 1. 23