Draft Environmental Assesment and Finding of No Significant Impact Gunnision River Activities February 1995

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Is ATTACHMENT B SUMMARY OF DRAFT MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR FURNISHING WATER FOR ENDANGERED FISH The Memorandum of Agreement (Agreement) would be among the Bureau of Reclamation, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service). The preferred alternative for the agreement is described in Chapter 2 of this EA and provides water from Aspinall Unit storage for endangered fish and protection of water users who presently receive indirect benefits from the Aspinall Unit. Major points of the agreement are: • Agreement shall remain in effect for no more than 5 years or until the conclusion of the Section 7 consultation (endangered species consultation) on the Aspinall Unit. • The agreement may be renewed up to an additional 5 years upon agreement of signatory parties. • During July through October, Reclamation will release, from the Aspinall Unit, sufficient water to maintain a minimum flow of 300 cfs in the Gunnison River from the Redlands Diversion Dam to the confluence with the Colorado River. • During the Aspinall Unit operation meetings held each year in January, April, and August; Reclamation would develop an operating plan and water release schedule that attempts to satisfy the needs of downstream Gunnison River mainstem water users senior in priority to the Aspinall Unit decrees. Dependent upon current hydrologic conditions and the available water supply, Reclamation would implement an operating plan which reduces the potential for administrative calls by these senior water rights when making releases for endangered fish. If an operating plan cannot be implemented which reduces the potential for administrative calls, then the parties to the agreement may reduce the 300 cfs fish release in order to minimize administrative calls. • Releases shall not result in water bypassing the Blue Mesa, Morrow Point, and Crystal powerplants. • The agreement shall not interfere with historic operations of the Aspinall Unit, including those authorized in the Colorado River Storage Project Act, the 1975 Exchange Agreement for Taylor Park Reservoir, the 1990 Taylor Park Agreement, or the 300 cfs minimum Aspinall Unit release through the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. • The CWCB will be responsible for calling the State Engineer for delivery of Aspinall releases for endangered fish species and for protection of those releases. The CWCB will take such action under state law; releases will be subject to such transit losses as may be imposed by the State Engineer. 37