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CHAPTER III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT Ruedi Reservoir is part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and is on the Fryingpan River about 15 miles east of Basalt, Colorado. A second round of water sales planned from Ruedi Reservoir necessitated Section 7 consultation. This consultation was combined with the Green Mountain Reservoir Water Marketing Program consultation. The biological opinion has determined that these water sales would have an adverse impact on endangered fish habitat below Palisade, Colorado, but that it could be offset by releasing 10,000 acre-feet of water from Ruedi Reservoir and/or Green Mountain Reservoir for endangered fish. Flaming Gorge Reservoir is part of the Colorado River Storage Project. Flaming Gorge Dam is located on the Green River in northeastern Utah about 32 miles from the Utah-Wyoming border. Though the primary purpose of Flaming Gorge Reservoir is to provide water storage to meet compact requirements, releases are made in response to hydropower generation, recreation, and fish and wildlife needs. Historically, once reservoir operating criteria are met, Flaming Gorge releases have been driven by power production, and have ranged from 800 cfs (400 cfs is the legal minimum) to about 4,200 cfs. Since 1985, Reclamation has agreed to an interim flow regime from late July-early October to conserve endangered fish and to allow research on their habitat needs. Each year, specific release patterns are determined during April and May and are based upon runoff forecasts. Since 1967, August release volumes have ranged from 95,000 to 311,000 acre-feet with an average of 160,000 acre-feet (2,600 cfs daily average) and September release volumes have ranged from 84,000 to 222,000 acre-feet with an average of 135,000 acre-feet (2,270 cfs daily average). During 1985 and 1986, Reclamation agreed to operate Flaming Gorge Reservoir to mimic 1979 and 1980 flow regimes, which were good years for Colorado squawfish recruitment. Between the third week in July and the first week in October, flow releases were held between 800 cfs and 2,600 cfs, with monthly releases not to exceed 100,000 acre-feet. Preliminary data indicate these releases have appeared to benefit Colorado squawfish reproduction. The Aspinall Unit, formerly known as the Curecanti Unit, is also part of the Colorado River Storage Project and is located on the Gunnison River about 30 miles below Gunnison, Colorado. The Aspinall Unit includes Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal Reservoirs. Like Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir acts principally as a storage unit, but releases are made to accommodate hydropower, recreation, and fish and wildlife needs. The Service and Reclamation will enter into consultation on the Aspinall Unit when consultation on Flaming Gorge Reservoir is completed, or at an earlier date. As yet, an interim flow regime with conservation flows has not been established, except for the interim regime in the Proposed Action. III-3