Laserfiche WebLink
River in relation to the Fish and Wildlife Service flow recommendations for endangered <br />fish. If biologically warranted, the project would evaluate flow enhancement alternatives <br />such as changing operation of existing storage dams, construction of new or enlarged <br />storage reservoirs and acquisition and retirement of existing absolute and conditional <br />water rights. The assessment is being. completed as part of basin -wide compliance with <br />the National Environmental Policy Act. <br />Costs.are based on estimates for enlarging Elkhead Reservoir as presented in the Yampa <br />Phase II Study. Actual program costs could be less, based on results of the NEPA <br />process. <br />Flow enhancement and protection ($12.2 million) <br />Recovering endangered fish requires protecting and managing sufficient habitat to <br />support self - sustaining populations of the species. The program is seeking to accomplish <br />this by working within state laws to protect habitat by developing, acquiring or <br />appropriating water rights to ensure the availability of instream flows over the long term. <br />Costs are based on current estimates for the Grand Valley Project Water Management <br />study, actual costs for the coordinated operations of Colorado mainstem reservoirs within <br />Colorado, and a contingency allowance for currently unidentified flow needs. <br />Habitat restoration ($12.4 million) <br />Restoration of flooded bottomlands is thought to be critical for the recovery of the <br />razorback sucker and would provide habitat for many species of waterfowl and other <br />wetland- dependent wildlife. Funding will be used for evaluating potential sites, acquiring <br />land, preparing plans and designs and making habitat improvements. <br />Endangered fish propagation facilities ($11.2 million) <br />A component of the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program is to construct and/or <br />acquire facilities to reproduce and raise endangered fish for stocking. This estimate is <br />based on the state of Colorado's estimate of $10 million for building a proposed <br />propagation facility. <br />Facility long -term operation and maintenance ($6.7 million) <br />Funding will be used to operate and maintain facilities constructed as part of the Upper <br />Colorado River Recovery Program. Estimated costs have come from several sources. The <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided estimates for fish passage and hatchery facilities. <br />Fish screen operation and maintenance costs were taken from "Feasibility evaluation of <br />nonnative fish control structures." Gage O &M includes only the actual costs for those <br />facilities currently supported by the program. Costs for the Steamboat Lake lease of 2,000 <br />acre -feet per year and for coordinated reservoir operations on the Colorado River were <br />taken from the FY 1998 program scopes of work. <br />