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1. During the base flow period (August- October), habitat for endangered fishes in the <br />Yampa River declines most rapidly when stream flows fall below 93 cfs. <br />2. Historically, endangered fish have survived in the Yampa River in spite of daily <br />average flows below this flow target. <br />3. The incidence of average daily flows less than 93 cfs should not increase in <br />frequency, magnitude and duration over that of the historic record. <br />4. A water management plan for the Yampa River should be developed to identify and <br />compare options for meeting the base flow recommendation. <br />5. The impacts of future depletions should be quantified using the Colorado River <br />Decision Support System ( CRDSS) flow model for the Yampa River (Appendix B). <br />The analysis of CRDSS data should include: <br />a) calculating the historic and future frequency, magnitude and duration of daily flows <br />less than 93 cfs at the Maybell gage and above the Maybell Canal diversion; <br />b) A comparative analysis of low flows during historic and projected future flow <br />events to quantify expected annual volume shortages of the 93 cfs flow target <br />under future water demand conditions. <br />6. The water management plan should strive to maintain flow variability within years and <br />between years such that both optimal and sub - optimal flow conditions are represented <br />at their historical frequencies in the base flow hydrograph. <br />7. The peak of the hydrograph should not be depleted to augment low -flow periods. <br />3.2. Yampa River Basin Aquatic Wildlife Management Plan <br />Concurrent with the research conducted on summer low flow needs of fish in the Yampa River, in <br />1998 the CDOW completed an Aquatic Wildlife Management Plan for the Yampa River Basin in <br />Colorado. The purpose of this document is to provide management perspectives and <br />recommended actions for aquatic resources and wildlife species managed by the CDOW in the <br />Yampa River Basin. The objectives of the plan were to: <br />1. describe the physical fishery and aquatic resources in the basin subject to <br />management by the CDOW; <br />2. discuss policies, agreements and issues influencing the management of these <br />resources; <br />' <br />3. discuss fishery management for specific waters and aquatic wildlife species located <br />within the basin via management categories; <br />4. describe preferred fishery and conservation management recommendations for the <br />' <br />basin and activities which are or will be undertaken to achieve agency goals and <br />agreements; <br />' <br />5. provide a reference and guide for fishery recreation management and aquatic <br />resource conservation by CDOW biologists, federal and state resource managers, <br />and interested public and private agencies and individuals. <br />11 <br />