9705

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9705
• Author: Green River Study Plan ad hoc Committee.
• Title: Study plan for the implementation and evaluation of flow and temperature recommendations for endangered fishes in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam.
• USFW Year: 2007.
• USFW - Doc Type: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
• Copyright Material: NO

GREEN RIVER STUDY PLAN

1

February 2,2007

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this Study Plan is to identify and recommend to the Upper Colorado
River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) those monitoring or research
projects necessary for implementation and evaluation of flow and temperature recommendations
for endangered fishes in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam (Muth et al. 2000).
Those projects include studies to evaluate the anticipated effects of implementing the
recommendations (including potential adverse effects identified in the 2005 Flaming Gorge Dam
Biological Assessment and Biological Opinion) and studies to examine recognized uncertainties
of the recommendations. Objectives of this Study Plan are to:

1. demonstrate how results of recently completed, ongoing, or pending Recovery Program
monitoring or research projects (studies) are being or will be used to implement and
evaluate the flow and temperature recommendations;

2. identify deficiencies in monitoring or research studies, and prioritize and recommend to
the Recovery Program revised ongoing or new studies to satisfy important information
needsl;

3. develop and recommend a timeline and approach for periodically assessing
implementation and evaluation of the flow and temperature recommendations; and

4. recommend to the Recovery Program modifications to the Recovery Implementation
Program Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP) to incorporate the approved Study Plan and
associated studies following standard Recovery Program procedures.

This Study Plan was identified as a requirement of the 2005 Final Biological Opinion on
the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2005; see Section 1.2.1).
The Study Plan was prepared by the Green River Study Plan ad hoc Committee, which included
representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), Western Area Power
Administration (Western), and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). Development of the
Study Plan was coordinated by the Recovery Program, and benefited greatly from input by
members of the Biology and Water Acquisition committees and principal investigators
conducting studies in the Green River Subbasin. The Study Plan was developed under the
principles of adaptive management in which monitoring and research results are used to revise
ongoing studies and guide new studies.

This Study Plan identifies information needs to implement and evaluate the flow and
temperature recommendations. The Study Plan does not determine if the operation of Flaming
Gorge Dam is meeting the flow and temperature recommendations, nor does it identify
modifications to dam operations. Those determinations are contingent on an interagency,

1 Information needs were dermed as those topics considered relevant to anticipated effects or uncertainties that had
not been addressed in previous or ongoing studies.