9305

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9305
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Final Biological Opinion for the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam.
• USFW Year: 1992.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

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The Service realizes that emergency events may occur that impact
Reclamation's ability to comply with this element of the reasonable and
prudent alternative. Where emergency circumstances mandate the need to
consult in an expedited manner because Reclamation or Western Power
determine that they will not be able to conform to the reasonable and
prudent alternative for an extended period, consultation may be conducted
informally through alternative procedures that the Service determines to
be consistent with the requirements of Section 7(a)-(d) of the Act. This
provision applies to situations involving acts of God, disasters,
casualties, national defense, and security emergencies. If emergency
events exceed 20 hours during any month, Western Power will contact the
Service to determine if reinitiation of Section 7 consultation is
necessary and to examine ways of maintaining flows for the endangered
fish. If after informal consultation, aformal-consultation is deemed
necessary, it shall be initiated as soon as practical after the emergency
is under control. Reclamation and Western Power will submit information
on the nature of the emergency action(s), the justification for the
expedited consultation, and the impacts to endangered or threatened
species and their habitats. The Service will evaluate such information
and issue a biological opinion including the information and
recomanendations given during the emergency consultation. Western Power
will report all short-term emergency events that result in a deviation in
the reasonable and prudent alternative on a quarterly basis.
2. Conduct a 5-year research program including implementation of winter and
spring research flows beginning in 1992 to allow for potential refinement
of flows for these seasons. This research program will be based on the
Five-Year Flaming Gorge Flow Recommendations Investigation which was
approved by the Recovery Program (Appendix B). The program provides for
annual meetings to refine seasonal flows based on research findings and
water year forecast. Except for specific research flows during the
5-year research program, year-round flows in the Green River will
resemble a natural hydrograph described under element 1 of the reasonable
and prudent alternative.
Research needed to further evaluate the winter/spring flows, flow needs
and effects in the lower Green River, and research flows for the summer
and autumn periods will be established during an annual coordination
meeting between Reclamation, Western Power, and the Service in early
April after determination of the water year forecast. The Standardized
Data Collection Program with supportive studies for the Green River is in
place and will be able to monitor fish response to yearly flow patterns
(contained in the Five-Year Flaming Gorge Flow Recommendations
Investigation, Appendix B). Research beginning in 1992 will focus on the
winter and spring seasons. Winter research flows will be established so
that various conditions ranging from base loading to full peaking power
operations can be further evaluated. This will include at least 1 year
of stable winter releases at or below 2,000 cfs and 1 year with a spring
peak of approximately 18,000 cfs measured at Jensen gage. If hydrologic
conditions do not provide a 18,000-cfs spring peak, then jet tube bypass
will be utilized. Spring research flows will examine various spring
peaks altering the current established spring flow in both magnitude and