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

These contaminants are causing unacceptable hazards to migratory waterfowl and
endangered fish in the area. This study provides the opportunity for a coordinated
effort among federal, state and local interests to resolve the region's critical water
resource problems, issues and opportunities.
b. Carbon/Emery Counties Water Management Study
This study is developing a Geographic Information System model linked to
an expert system and decision support software for use in formulating and
evaluating water management strategies for the full range of needs in the two-
county area. Carbon County is short of M&I water. Both Carbon and Emery
Counties have significant coal reserves, are suppliers of electricity (coal-fired
generation plants) and have tremendous recreation potential. Irrigated agriculture
has historically been a stabilizing influence on the region's economy. Two
Reclamation projects, Emery County and Scofield, are key to future water
management strategies in the area. The future of this two-county area is linked to
its water management strategies. The study will provide a comprehensive approach
among federal, state and local interests in developing a water management plan to
include: (1) reducing turbidity in the Price River and its tributaries, (2) augmenting
M&I water quality and quantity in Carbon County, (3) integrating salinity
management strategies into overall watershed plants, (4) protecting water rights,
(5) protecting critical reaches in streams and (6) meeting instream flow
requirements.
3. Colorado
a. Mesa County Water Conservation Study
This study will quantify the volume of water that can be potentially
salvaged from the Grand Valley Irrigation Company and Orchard Mesa Irrigation
District irrigation delivery systems and develop plans to implement water
conservation practices. The plans will provide recommendations for increasing
water delivery system efficiencies and address issues associated with protecting
conserved water within the context of state water law. It is anticipated that
approximately 35,000 to 40,000 acre-feet may be saved annually through the
elimination of waste. It is envisioned that a substantial portion of the conserved
water would be dedicated to endangered species recovery purposes.
G. RESERVOIR OPERATIONS
1. 1998 Operations Summary and Reservoir Status
Water year 1998 observed near-normal hydrologic conditions in the basin
with near- normal precipitation translating into average snowpack. At the beginning
of the runoff season, the Basinwide snowpack was 100 percent of normal. Great
media and public attention focused on the strong EI Nino Southern Oscillation
anomaly present in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean and the potential
effect this might have on the Colorado River Basin. Reservoir drawdowns in the
winter of 1998 were slightly greater than normal in a conservative attempt to
prepare for potential high spring runoff. However, water year 1998 did not have
the spring precipitation, cold temperatures, and extreme runoff that characterized
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