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the CRSP reservoirs were full at the beginning of the period enabled the Bureau of Reclamation to release water to satisfy the compact obligation to the lower basin thus allowing water users in the upper basin to continue to divert. 55. The CRSP accomplishes its flood control purpose by utilizing runoff forecasts from the National Weather Service and drawing down the CRSP reservoirs during the January through April period each year so that the peak of the spring runoff can be stored and flood protection provided. a. An additional benefit under the flood control use is the avoidance of ice jams in the Gunnison River upstream of Blue Mesa Reservoir. To accomplish this purpose, the United States releases large quantities of water from Blue Mesa Reservoir each year. The Union Park Project will not alter the need to operate Blue Mesa Reservoir for these purposes. Once this water is released, the Reservoir may be refilled in order to accomplish the other decreed purposes and the United States may place a senior call on'the Union Park project to accom- plish this filling. b. In 1983, 1984 and 1986, the Aspinall Unit provided significant flood control benefits through storage of flood. flows. In 1983, draw down and subsequent storage of flood flows in the Aspinall Unit reduced flows near the City of Delta from an estimated 29,000 c.f.s. to 20,000 c.f.s., a reduction of 9,000 c.f.s. for which the Corps of Engineers estimated flood damage reduction of $1,000,000. In 1984, operation of the Aspinall Unit for flood control reduced peak flows at Delta by an estimated 14,000 c.f.s. for $5,000,000 in damage reduction. In 1986, operation of the 'Aspinall Unit provided damage reduction of approximately $800,000. 56. The CRSP provides recreation through the investment of millions of dollars in facilities around the CRSP reservoirs in operation by providing conservation storage which in turn provides large water surfaces which are ideal for recreation purposes. In addition, the sustained releases from the reservoirs in the summer and fall provide rafting, canoeing and recreation opportunities in the rivers below the reservoirs. The Aspinall Unit serves its recreation purpose by providing a pool of water in Blue Mesa Reservoir which is heavily used by visitors to the Curecanti National Recreation Area. 57. The Court recognizes that it previously held that recreation was not a primary purpose, and thus concluded that the United St~tes could not make a call for the use of water solely for recreational purposes. In making said ruling on recreation, the Court relied on Jicarilla ADache Tribe v. United States, 657 F.2d 1126 (10th Cir. 1981). Having now heard the evidence in this case, the Court finds that the waters impounded in the reservoirs of the Aspinall Unit are not used solely for the purposes of recreation, and thus the Jicarilla holding is inapposite here. However, even if the water were used solely for recreation at the Aspinall Unit, 27