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<br />, <br />.~ <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Memorandum <br />Agenda Item llg(l) <br />July 16, 1991 <br /> <br />The Bureau is now conducting water marketing negotiations for the long-term <br />sale of the available supply. While short-term water needs are apparently limited, the <br />Bureau has received firm long-term requests for the full amount of water available <br />for contracting. <br /> <br />Thus while a short term annual lease for the benefit of the endangered fishes <br />will not affect water users. a long-term commitment of water may conflict with water <br />sales and the authorized purposes and the operating principles for Ruedi Reservoir. <br />Moreover, the use of additional water to benefit endangered fishes goes beyond the <br />1987 Biological Opinion and the Recovery Program. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />The staff recommends the following: <br /> <br />Support the short-term annual lease of up to 10,000 af of water from <br />Ruedi Reservoir for the endangered fishes in the 15 Mile Reach of the <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />Such a short-term lease should not interfere with the ongoing contract <br />negotiations between the Bureau and water users. <br /> <br />Any contract for the lease or sale of water, whether short or long-term, <br />should be pursuant to state law and include the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board as required by the Recovery Program. <br /> <br />No long-term commitment of water out of Ruedi Reservoir should be <br />made until the impacts of such a commitment on the authorized <br />purposes of Ruedi Reservoir are fully evaluated. <br /> <br />The Board's recommendations on this sale or lease should be transmitted to <br />the Regional Directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of <br />Reclamation. <br /> <br />Ell/bj <br />bj 123( 1 ).llg <br /> <br />2 <br />