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Service having been provided. The Section 7 Consultation process is ongoing and the schedule is <br />as follows: <br />• 12 \97 FWS draft flow recommendations should be available. <br />• 2 \98 USBR final Biological Assessment. <br />• 3 \98 USBR submits basis of negotiation to Washington for long term water management <br />agreement; FWS prepares draft Biological Opinion. <br />• 6 \98 Start negotiations (NPS, FWS, USBR, CWCB). <br />• 10 \98 Draft Water Management Agreement should be available. <br />• 11 \98 USBR\NPS complete draft NEPA document. <br />• 6 \99 FWS completes ESA Biological Opinion; USBR\NPS complete final NEPA Document <br />and issue Record of Decision. <br />• 7 \99 Deliver contract water from Aspinall; NPS files quantification for Black Canyon <br />Reserved water right. <br />Dates noted in the schedule above have since slipped by 12- months to allow the Service <br />additional time to complete the synthesis report summarizing the 5 -years of research. <br />A 5 -year Aspinall water service contract was negotiation in August, 1995 to assure 300 cfs flows <br />in the Gunnison River below the Redlands diversion during July through October. The contract is <br />between USBR, USF &WS, and State. The major issue is protection for Gunnison Basin water users <br />during times of contract releases. Language that would assure Gunnison mainstem water users <br />downstream and senior to Blue Mesa a full water supply during times of contract releases was <br />included to protect against calls from those rights during periods when contract releases are made. <br />The CRWCD, UGRWCD, UVWUA, Redlands W &P, and City of Grand Junction all provided input <br />to the state on the contract. <br />ESA Section 7 consultations have been completed on two other projects (Dallas Creek and <br />Dolores) which potentially affect operations of the Aspinall Units. These two consultations reserve <br />148,000 AF in the Aspinall Unit to offset depletion's from these projects. The CWCB feels this <br />number is too high (by about 50,000 AF) and current depletions are only about 45,000 AF. This <br />discrepancy may be resolved through re- consultation on these projects as a result of critical habitat <br />designations for the endangered fish or as part of the Aspinall consultation. <br />American Heritage Rivers Program — North Fork of the Gunnison River — A portion of <br />this river has been nominated along with at least 125 stream segments nation wide. Additional <br />details to follow. <br />DOLORES \ SAN MIGUEL RIVER BASIN <br />Dolores Project Operations — Environmental\Recreational Groups are always looking to <br />increase flows below McPhee Dam although matters seem to be fairly quite at the present time. <br />The item of note at present is the effort by Colorado Division of Wildlife to move 800 AF of <br />water that was historical diverted to Totten Reservoir into McPhee for use in maintaining higher <br />flows in the Dolores River downstream of McPhee at certain times. <br />Colorado River Salinity Control Program - Paradox Valley Unit - See above. <br />SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN <br />Animas -La Plata Project ( "A -LP "). The Romer /Schoettler process was initiated to help <br />resolve outstanding issues related to the 1986 Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement and <br />C; \msoffice \win word \document \basi nisuues <br />December 30, 1997 <br />Page 9 of 19 <br />