9393

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9393
• Author: Crist, L. and R. Williams.
• Title: Five Year Flaming Gorge Research Program FY 1995.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: 32-41, Fg-I,
• Copyright Material: NO

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Proposals for hypothesis-testing studies will be submitted on an annual basis. Cooperating
agencies will review proposals prior to field and laboratory activities and assign funds to the
most pertinent studies. Results from hypothesis-testing studies will be used to clarify
information generated by core-research studies. Hypotheses-testing studies will assist in
answering questions concerning ways in which flows affect fishes of interest and in refining
seasonal flow recommendations.
The Habitat ManagementJEvaluation portion ofthe Five Year Flaming Gorge Research
Program was initially designed to implement and evaluate experimental habitat improvement
projects in the Green River, which would then be linked to flow recommendations. The Ofd
Charley Wash project and a study to evaluate its benefits (Characterization of Spring Habitats)
both fell within this category. Subsequently, the Capital Improvements Program was
implemented under the RIP and assumed this portion of the Five Year Flaming Gorge
ResearchSProgram. The Capital Improvements Program is implementing a series of trial
habitat improvement projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Experimental projects within
the Green River Subbasin which are being investigated include Old Charley Wash near Ouray
and Escalante Ranch near Jensen. Data generated from these studies and flow needs for
these projects will be integrated into overaA flow recommendations for FGD and the Green
River.
3.0.3. RESEARCH FLOWS
The Biological Opinion allowed for implementation of research (test) flows to help refine
the seasonal flow recommendations. Test flows were envisioned primarily for the spring and
winter, periods for which information on flow needs was often limited (see Table 1). Requests
or recommendations for research flows wilt be submitted to Reclamation. Requested research
flows will be discussed biannually at a meeting of concerned parties which will include the
Service, Reclamation, the State of Utah, WAPA, and other affected agencies.
Flow requests made by the Flaming Gorge Research Team will vary depending on
available water resources and study needs. However, it is presently anticipated that research
flows will include at least one year of stable winter releases at or below 2,000 cfs from FGD,
at least one year of very high spring releases utilizing the jet tubes at FGD, and two to three
years of relatively high flows below the confluence of the Green and Yampa (approx. 18,000
cfs at Jensen). Additionally, it may be requested that peak releases from FGD be offset slightly
from peak flows in the~Yampa River to increase duration of high spring flows in the Green
River. Stable flow releases from FGD will also be needed to support studies for short periods
of time during the summer months. Specific recommendations for spring and summer flows
will be developed by the Flaming Gorge Research Team during preplanning meetings in
January and February and finalized at the April meeting each year. Winter flow
recommendations will be finalized as soon as possible each year.
3.0.4. LEAD RESPONSlBILIT/ES AND COORDINATION OF RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
Reclamation and the Service are jointly responsible for overall activities within the Five
Year Flaming Gorge Research Program. However, to facilitate synthesis of results for the
refined Biological Opinion on operation of FGD, a Technical Integration Team was
Flaming Gorge Research Program 14
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