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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from 1979-1984. This was followed by an interim flow agreement which
constrained sunnier flows to benefit the fish; these constrained flows were
studied from 1985-1991.
This biological opinion is being issued by the Ser"vice consistent with the
provisions of the Recovery Implementation Program`+fdr Endangered Fish Species
in the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service 1987). The Recovery Program was formally endorsed by the Secretary of
the Interior (on behalf of the Service and Reclamation); the Governors of
Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; and the Administrator of Western Power in January
1988. The purpose of the Recovery Program is to recover the endangered fish
while allowing water development to proceed in~the Upper Colorado River Basin
consistent with the Act. The Recovery Program contains five principal
elements or strategies for recovering the endangered fish in the Upper Basin:
habitat management (provision of instream flow); habitat development and
maven ce;"s~o°cking of native fish; nonnatives fisTi` ansport ding; and
research, monitoring, an~,,dat4,~~~.~4,~~t~ia~ning the operation of Flaming
Gorge Dam is identified as one of the principal habitat management strategies
for recovering the endangered fish in the Green River. The following excerpts
from the Recovery Program are pertinent to the Section 7 consultation on
Flaming Gorge:
"The water resource development projects constructed in the Upper
Basin by Reclamation may have significantly and adversely affected
the river system's rare fish species. In addition to the
mechanism described in the preceding sections, there are ways to
support essential habitat areas through the refined operation of
these reservoirs to reduce or eliminate those adverse impacts and
contribute to recovery in a manner consistent with all applicable
laws." (page 4-8)
"Reclamation and the Service will make every effort to complete
Section 7 consultation on the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam during
1989. The parties will develop a release schedule that treats
conservation of the endangered fish species as a firm constraint on
release patterns from Flaming Gorge. Upon completion of consultation,
Reclamation will adopt alternatives or recommendations jointly developed
with the Service." (page 4-10).
Accordingly, refining the operation of Flaming Gorge to benefit the endangered
fish and completion of the biological opinion has been given a high priority
under the Recovery Program. Since 1985, Reclamation has operated Elaming
Gorge to provide flows in the Green River that enhance survival and growth of
young Colorado squawfish. Ina ition, numerous studies were funded through
the Recovery Program to better understand the effects of Flaming Gorge Dam on
the endangered fish and their habitat. These studies provided information
that was critical in the formulation of this biological opinion.
In accordance with Section 7 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1536) and its regulations
(50 CFR 402 et seq.), we transmit the Service's biological opinion for the
continued operation of Flaming Gorge Dam on federally listed endangered
species.