9318

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9318
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

NEPA compliance on the Ruedi Round II Water Marketing Program was
completed on January 16, 199fl, with the signing of a ROD on the proposed action.
The proposed action made 51,500 acre-feet of water available for marketing to
western slope contractors. As a result of Endangered Species Act (ESA)
consultation on the proposed action, 5,000 acre-feet of this total would be withheld
from water sales and released to benefit Colorado River endangered fishes.
Operational changes make an additional 5,000 acre-feet available to benefit the
Colorado River endangered fishes in four years out of five. After Round I sales of
7,850 acre-feet, 38,650 acre-feet of water were available for marketing in Round
II. Since 1990, the Fish and Wildlife Service has listed the razorback sucker and
identified and listed critical habitat for the four Colorado River endangered fishes,
both of which could be affected by the Round II Water Marketing Program.
To comply with the ESA, Reclamation reinitiated consultation with the Fish
and Wildlife Service on the Ruedi Round II Water Marketing Program. On May 26,
1995, the Fish and Wildlife Service issued a biological opinion on the effects of the
program on the Colorado River endangered fishes and designated critical habitat.
Prior to consultation, Reclamation identified 17,000 acre-feet of immediate needs
that should be contracted for in Round II. This left 21,650 acre-feet of
uncommitted water in Ruedi Reservoir. The May 26, 1995 biological opinion
contained two reasonable and prudent alternatives to jeopardy. One was to
continue commitments made in the 1990 EIS, and the other was to develop an
agreement among the Fish and Wildlife Service, Reclamation and the Colorado
Water Conservation Board to make the remaining uncommitted yield available to
enhance flows in the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River. Because of problems in
implementing this second reasonable and prudent alternative, Reclamation reinitiated
discussions with the Fish and Wildlife Service, the state of Colorado and water
users on how to revise the 1995 biological opinion so that Reclamation could
resume contracting. The Fish and Wildlife Service has amended the 1995 biological
opinion. Acceptance of the amendment by Reclamation, followed by resumption
of Round II contracting, is expected in the near future.
Contents of reservoirs within the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project as of
September 30, 1998 were as follows: Ruedi Reservoir, 83,659 acre-feet; Turquoise
Lake, 118,264 acre-feet; combined Mt. Elbert Forebay and Twin Lakes Reservoir,
139,454 acre-feet; and Pueblo Reservoir, 147,853 acre-feet. During water year
1998 (October 1, 1997 through September 30, 19981, transmountain diversions
from the Colorado River Basin in Colorado by the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project via the
Charles H. Boustead Tunnel totaled 51,258 acre-feet.
b. Dolores Project
Dolores Project construction began in 1976. During fiscal year 1995, all
primary project facilities were completed and in operation. Work yet to be
completed includes installation of agricultural drains and wetland mitigation. Land
has been purchased for wetland mitigation, with construction of the wetlands
presently scheduled to be completed by July 1999. In 1996, Reclamation signed
petitions allocating the last approximately 1,800 acre-feet of full-service irrigation
water to full-service users. Reclamation substantially completed construction of the
Dolores Project in fiscal year 1998. The final cost allocation for the project is
presently scheduled to be completed by mid-1999.
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