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<br /> <br /> <br />Alternative 5b: Shoshone Power Plant. <br />5. Other Alternatives <br />Alternative 6a: Insurance Pool. <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />r? <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The methodology used in the analyses, together with the results and conclusions from this <br />investigation, are summarized in this report. Detailed analysis methodology, results and conclusions <br />are presented in a series of twelve Technical Memoranda that are included in Appendices A through L. <br />Executive Committee comments regarding the draft Phase 2 Report study findings are included in <br />Appendix M. <br />1.2 GENERAL <br />Providing 20,000 acre-feet of supplemental water is an identified element of the Final Programmatic <br />Biological Opinion (PBO) (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, December 20, 1999). The PBO specifies <br />actions designed to offset the impacts of all water depletions that have historically occurred, and a <br />specified level of depletions (up to 120,000 acre-feet) that will occur in the future, upstream from the <br />lower terminus of the 15-Mile Reach. Persons or entities with projects upstream from the 15-Mile <br />Reach requiring a federal permit or federal action that would invoke the jurisdiction of the U. S. Fish <br />and Wildlife Service (Service) under §7 of the Endangered Species Act (a "federal nexus', may rely on <br />actions identified in the PBO as a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) to avoid jeopardy to, or <br />adverse modificati on of critical habitat for, the four Colorado River fish species listed under the Act. <br />The PBO identifies the 15-Mile Reach as important for the survival and recovery of the listed species. <br />The PBO also identifies providing adequate flows in the 15-Mile Reach, in combination with other <br />recovery actions, as important to achieving recovery of the listed species. In particular, with regard to <br />this report, the Service has identified enhancement of spring peak flows in the 15-Mile Reach as <br />assisting in habitat formation and maintenance. The Service identified target peak flows in the 15-Mile <br />Reach of 12,900 to 26,600 cfs as important to mobilize gravel/cobble substrate. Management <br />activities to enhance spring peak flows are expected to result in an increased frequency of years in <br />which flows exceed 12,900 cfs. The Service has also identified enhancement of flows in the late <br />irrigation season Quly through October) as important because flows in the 15-Mile Reach are <br />significantly reduced by agricultural operations in the Grand Valley. <br />One of the management elements identified in the PBO is the subject of this report. The PBO states: <br />`The intent is to provide additional water up to approximately 20,000 acre feet peryear of water for <br />spring peak flow enbancement, witbout diminisbing priject yield or causing pro, ject sponsors to incur <br />significant costs. When additional water of approximately 20,000 acre-feet is available, it will provide <br />1,009 cfs per day fora 10 day period " (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 1999, p. 11) <br />In preparing this report, the consultant team has worked closely with, and incorporated input from, <br />an Executive Committee representing a broad set of interests participating in the Upper Colorado <br />River Basin Recovery Program (Recovery Program). The Executive Committee consists of the <br />following: (1) one representative from the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) who serves <br />as the Executive Committee's primary point of contact with the consultant team and who chairs the <br />PAData\GEN\CWCB\19665\Report Phase 2\FinaLReport9.03\FinaLCFOPS_Report(9-03).doc 11