Annual Operating Plan For Colorado River Reservoirs 2004

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January 7, 2004 13 t In July 2003, a final report titled, "Flow Recommendations to Benefit Endangered Fishes in the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers" was published by the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. The report compiles and summarizes the results of research conducted on endangered fish in the Gunnison and Upper Colorado Rivers under the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program. The report presents flow recommendations for two different river reaches: one for the lower Gunnison River between Delta and Grand Junction, Colorado, and the other for the Colorado River ' downstream of the Gunnison River confluence. Reclamation intends to initiate a National Environmental Policy Act compliance process to determine the impacts of the flow recommendations, or a reasonable alternative to them, on Aspinall Unit operations and on other ' resources associated with the Gunnison River. A notice of intent to develop an Environmental Impact Statement will likely be issued in January of 2004. On January 17, 2001, the United States filed an application to quantify the Federal reserved water right decreed to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. The water right is for flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park downstream of the Gunnison Tunnel. On April 2, 2003, the Department of the Interior and State of Colorado reached agreement regarding water for the park. Under this agreement, the reserved water right filed for by the National Park Service will be quantified for 300 cfs (8.5 cros). The Colorado Water Conservation Board will file for additional flows, with a 2003 priority date, under the State of Colorado instream flow program, which are in excess of those required to fulfill the purposes of the Aspinall Unit, to ' provide additional water resources for the park. For water year 2004, the Aspinall Unit will be operated in accordance with the Colorado River ' Storage Project Act to conserve storage while meeting downstream delivery requirements. Under normal conditions, the minimum release objectives of the Aspinall Unit are to meet the delivery requirements of the Uncompahgre Valley Project, maintain a minimum flow of 300 cfs (8.5 cros) in ' the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon, and maintain a minimum flow of 300 cfs (8.5 cros) in the 2 -mile reach below the Redlands Diversion Dam during the months of July through October. In dry years, the 300 cfs flow through the canyon and the 2 -mile reach can be reduced pursuant to the appropriate decree or MOA. Under the most probable inflow conditions, flows through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park will be above the minimum release objective during the ' summer months. To protect both the Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery in the Black Canyon and recreational interests, releases during 2004 will be planned to minimize large fluctuations in the daily and monthly flows in the Gunnison River below the Gunnison Tunnel diversion. Under the minimum probable and most probable inflow scenarios, Blue Mesa Reservoir is not expected to fill in the summer of 2004. With the most probable inflow, Blue Mesa Reservoir will fill ' to within 11 feet (3.4 meters) of full pool in July 2004. Under the maximum probable inflow, Aspinall Unit Reservoirs are expected to fill. 1