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<br />- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agenda Item 21 g <br />July 24-25, 2000 Board Meeting <br />Page 3 of3 <br /> <br />Ruedi Reservoir so that people have a cleat understanding of what to expect in any <br />given year. Progress: Operating plan meetings are held annually and USER will <br />strive to better coordinate with the operations of other parts of the Recovery Program <br />in the future. NEP A compliance for the long-term agreement and the proposed <br />"Ruedi Futures Study" will help define the issues and opportunities. <br /> <br />Under the amended biological opinion, USER has proceeded to process up to 6,135 <br />AF of Ruedi Round II water sale contracts. USBR will proceed with the full 17,000 AF <br />(6,135 AF plus the remaining 10,865 AF) of Ruedi Round II water sale contracts after the <br />interim long-term agreement is signed. This 2000 water contract tetains the statement <br />that USBR will make a reasonable effort to maintain the maximum release rate at 250 cfs. <br />Also, the reservoir storage target levels and dates have not been changed. The Service has <br />also provided the required report documenting Ruedi reservoir operations and the <br />benefits of Ruedi releases to the 15-Mile Reach and the endangered fish. <br /> <br />The USBR must follow a formal negotiating process in the development of long-term <br />water contracts. The negotiating sessions ate open public meetings. The basis of <br />negotiation, designation of parties to the interim long-term contract for endangered fish, <br />and NEP A compliance all need to be decided bt:fore formal negotiations can begin. <br /> <br />This memorandum and the attached I-year contract have been forwarded to <br />representatives of the USBR, the Service, the Colorado River Water Conservation <br />District, the Southeastern Colorado Water Con~ervancy District and the Ruedi Water and <br />Power Authority. They may wish to appear and comment at the Board meeting. <br /> <br />Recommendation <br /> <br />We believe that the proposed I-year contract with the USBR and the Service to <br />deliver 10,825 AF from Ruedi Reservoir during 2000 to benefit endangered fish species <br />in the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River is reasonable and appropriate. Therefore, we <br />recommend that the Board approve this I-year contract with the understanding that the <br />interested parties will continue to negotiate in good faith on a long-term interim contract <br />for the release of Ruedi water to benefit endangered fish that will satisfactorily address <br />the issues outlined above and any other issues which may be identified during the course <br />of those contract negotiations. <br /> <br />Attachment: <br />DRS <br /> <br />c:\mydocs\agenda21 gRuedi72000.bdm.doc <br />