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<br />for up to five additional years, or until the Section 7 consultation is complete and the <br />Service has issued a final biological opinion, but without further renewal options. The <br />Service has signed the proposed amendment. <br /> <br />- <br /> <br />The purpose of this agreement was to assure that the Redlands Fish Ladder has <br />sufficient water to operate and that the Gunnison River downstream of the Redlands <br />Diversion Dam has at least 300 cfs in it for fish passage purposes. The proposed <br />amendment will delete Article 2b ofthe MOA that allowed renewal of the agreement and <br />will change Article 2a to read: <br /> <br />"2. This MOA shall become effective on August 16, 1995, and shall remain in <br />effect until August 16,2005, or until the conclusion of the Section 7 consultation <br />on Aspinall Unit operations and issuance of a final biological opinion by the <br />Service, whichever occurs first." <br /> <br />Board staff believes that this interim agreement has served the intended purposes <br />well without any adverse impacts to water users or other resources in the Gunnison River <br />Basin. Staff has received concurrence in the proposed amendment from the following <br />interested parties: <br /> <br />Eric Kuhn, Colorado River Water Conservation District <br />Jim Hokit, Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association <br />Kathleen Klein, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District <br />Gregg Strong, Redlands Water Company <br />Greg Trainor, City of Grand Junction <br />Wayne Schieldt, Colorado Division of Water Resources <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Mr. Kuhn and Ms. Klein expressed the need for the MOA to continue at least <br />through development and implementation ofthe Gunnison River PBO, noting that <br />implementation could involve an extensive NEP A process, which might take longer than <br />another five years. Reclamation representatives, Ed Wamer and David Roberts, have <br />stated orally that agency policy prevents them from agreeing to further renewal of the <br />MOA beyond August 16,2005, without re-negotiation of the entire MOA. Ifrenewal in <br />2005 is needed, the re-negotiation process could be undertaken then. <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Board members agree to the amendment and have the <br />Director execute the MOA extension. <br /> <br />e <br />