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GREEN RIVER STUDY PLAN 7 February 2,2007 Biological Assessment and Biological Opinion on Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam As part of ESA compliance, Reclamation and Western developed the Biological Assessment on the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (BA) for the proposed action of modifying the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam to achieve the flow and temperature recommendations (U.S. Department of the Interior and Western Area Power Administration 2005). The BA determined that the proposed action may adversely affect the four endangered fish species and their critical habitat, and a list of conservation measures was developed to offset those effects. These measures were later incorporated into reasonable and prudent measures in the biological oprmon. The Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (BO; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2005) concurred with the effects determination of the BA, but determined that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence ofthe four endangered fishes and will not result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat if the reasonable and prudent measures are implemented. Implementation of the proposed action is expected to result in overall beneficial effects to the endangered fishes and their critical habitat in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam and induce a positive response as a result of a more natural hydrologic regime. Some of the conservation measures identified in the BA stemmed from uncertainties associated with the proposed action that Reclamation identified in the Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (FEIS) and the Record of Decision (ROD), and as identified in the flow and temperature recommendations. Because some of those uncertainties are linked to potential take of the endangered fishes, the conservation measures served as the basis for Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) identified by the Service as necessary and appropriate to avoid and minimize the impacts of incidental take of the listed Colorado River fishes. The following five RPMs were identified in the BO (abbreviated from text in the BO). 1. Implementation and refmement of the proposed action will occur through an adaptive management process. 2. The Recovery Program will assess the need for and implement, as necessary, nonnative fish control programs in the Green and Yampa River systems in accordance with the RlPRAP and scopes of work approved by the Recovery Program. 3. Reclamation has committed to develop a process for operating the selective withdrawal structure consistent with the objectives of improving temperature conditions for the endangered fish. 4. Reclamation and the Recovery Program should determine if temperature gaging in Reach 1 and Reach 2 is adequate to ensure temperature recommendations are met. 5. Reclamation will produce a summary report each year to document annual operations and the information used to develop those operations.