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Tom Pius Peter Evans Re: lSMRPBO and Yampa River Issues May 18. 1999 Page 2 . meeting the flow shortages; and a recommended alternative to mcet thc Servi<:<.:'s [lnw recommendations. enlargementofElkheadllllll Stegecoach Reservoirs. A subsequent detailed study was conducted focusing on alternatives for enlarging Elkhead Reservoir and managing flows in the Yampa River recognized as the short ~ solution. Subsequent to that report NEP A was initiated on the proposed Elkhead enlargement, aU with Recovery Program funds and with the participation of the Service and the State of Colorado. Based on what we learned, and to find alternatives to enlarging Elkhead and Stagecoach Reservoirs. we collectively agreed to pursue a Yampa River Management Plan and try to bring basin water Dlallagers and their resources to the "table." However, the Service was not totally comfortable with the late-summer season low.flow recommendations, so the Recovery Progranl sponsorcd an intensive low-flow study. The Recovery Program also conducted a second economic study (which confirmed the results of the first) and developed a second hydrologic model (using ST A TEMOD). The USFWS signed an MOU of cooperation with the Yampa River Basin Partnership and h,L~ become an active participant along with the State and the Partnership working toward dcvclopmcnt of the "Plan." . The only way to describe the present situation is confusing. The !ow-flnwstudies have been completed. I have been told that the Recovery Program's Biology Cornmitlcc has adopted thc position that the 93 c,f.s. low-flow recommendation is critical, that flows cannot he allowed tn go below this figure more frequently than has occurred in the past, hJ.l! that augmentation is not nccessary and there must be no future depletions during the peak months or April-July It,r augmenting fish flows. At the May 12th Management Committee meeting Service l3iologist, Frank Ptiefer, stated "if looking for storing on peak - don't bother." Meanwhile, the Recovery Progrum pays $30,000 annually to lease 2,000 a.r. of water stored on the peak in Steamboat Rcservoir for FWS-directed release to support low flows. Further, the Bureau of Reclamation has severed (or threatened to sever) funding for the Yampa River activities, believing (quite appropriately) that based on what they believe the Service's current position to be capital funds should not be used for further activities on the Yampa River at least until structural alternatives are proposed. Meanwhile, the Service has issued biological opinions on the operation of Flaming Gorgc and the Duschene River which rely on hydrology from the Yampa and White River systems. The Service has issued a draft biological opinion for the High Savory Project which relies 011 the Yampa River Management Plan (and depletes an average of 7,700 a.f. form the peak of the Lillie Snake River). .