9364

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9364
• Author: Upper Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program.
• Title: 1997 Coordinated Reservoir Operations Bypasses for Endangered Fish.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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Willow Creek
The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District participated in the Coordinated Reservoir Operations
study process, however, no releases from Willow Creek Reservoir were made during 1997 as there was
no need for additional water due to the high flows at the time.
Homestake
Homestake Reservoir did not participate in the Coordinated Reservoir Operations Program during 1997.
SUMMARY TABLE OF BYPASSES FOR 1997
Date Ruedi
(cfs) Green
Mountain
(cfs) Williams
Fork
(cfs) Wolford
Mountain
(cfs) Acre-feet
05/30/97 75 143 432
05/31/97 311 501 1,611
06/01/97 482 873 2,688
06/02/97 110 461 131 982 3,340
06/03/97 239 470 213 992 3,796
06/04/97 104 970 2,130
06/05/97 29 901 1,845

Total for CROS (af) 15,842
VII. Division of Water Resources Administration
Provided below is an excerpt from the State of Colorado Division 5 Water Resources 1997 Annual
Report:
"CROS (Coordinated Reservoir Operations Study - - 1997 marked the first year in which
reservoir releases in the Colorado River Basin were coordinated in a manner designed to
enhance the habitat of several endangered fish species residing in the 15-Mile Reach of
the Colorado River.
The 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River between Palisade, Colorado, and the confluence of the
Colorado and Gunnison Rivers at Grand Junction is important habitat for the endangered
Colorado River Squawflsh and Razorback Sucker. Recovery of these fish in the upper Colorado
River is expected to require improvement of existing habitat conditions. Research has indicated
that enhancement of peak flows in the Reach improves the spawning habitat for the endangered
fishes.
A study was conducted under RIPRAP item LA.3.c.(3)(c) indicating that the coordinated
operation of reservoirs located upstream from the 15-Mile Reach may result in
enhancement of spring peak flows in the 15-Mile Reach for the benefit of the endangered
1 Wolford Mountain was full and spilling all inflow during the time Coordinated Reservoir Operations were
occurring.
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