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Gunnison River Endangered Fish Flow Recommendation Update: The USFWS 4 proposed revisions to their draft Gunnison Basin Flow Recommendations and sent those revisions to the Recovery Program participants for comment and review. The revisions address complaints from several objectors that the USFWS incorrectly interpreted already published flow recommendations for small sections of the Gunnison River produced by John Pitlick for the Recovery Program. The USFWS has revised their previous recommendations to match Pitlick's work. One improvement is that no peak flows are recommended in dry and moderately dry years. Another improvement is that wet year peak flows will be reduced from 18,000 cfs to 14,400 cfs, which alleviates concerns of increased flooding at Delta. However, CWCB staff are concerned that the recommendations now have an extended duration that result in a higher total water request than the original flow recommendations. This would severely impact Colorado's ability to develop and use its Colorado River compact apportionment and limit Blue Mesa's ability to store excess water in wet years for use in dry years. Staffis reviewing the revised recommendations and providing comments. Staff has received preliminary indications from water users in the Gunnison Basin that they want to move forward with these new recommendations if further concerns can be addressed through an adaptive management process. Given the shortcomings of the adaptive management program below Glen Canyon Dam, the staff will move cautiously. Protection of the endangered fish in the Gunnison could be beneficial, but not necessary for their recovery. . Gunnison Basin Drought Relief Plan: Our staff worked closely with Reclamation, USFWS, Colorado River Water Conservation District, Redlands Water and Power, Xcel Energy and other water users in the Gunnison Basin to craft a drought relief plan for the Gunnison Basin Huge Endangered Fish! On July 3 Fish and Wildlife personnel reported that a 16.8-pound (Iength=940 mm [37 inch]) Colorado pikeminnow was found in the fish trap of the Redlands passageway on 3 July. This is the largest pikeminnow to pass through this facility since the fish passageway at Redlands was opened in late-June 1996. The pikemimJow released about 150 yards upstream from the dam. The flows as recorded immediately downstream from the dam in the 2.3-mile reach of the Lower Gunnison River ranged from about 212 to 268 cfs. McInnis Introduces Legislation to Increase Black Canyon's Boundaries: On May 22 U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis introduced legislation to expand the boundaries of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. . 20