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<br />~} <br /> <br />downstream flood concerns, protection of both Unit and Uncompahgre Project <br />facilities, and protection of CRSP purposes. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-Crystal release ramping rates--Individual flow changes should be 100 cfs or less <br />when canyon flows are less than 500 cfs; 200 cfs or less when canyon flows are <br />between 500 and 1,000 cfs, and 300 cfs when canyon flows are above 1,000 cfs. <br />These individual changes can be made every 6-12 hours, if necessary. Daily <br />changes should not exceed 500 cfs while ramping up and 400 cfs while ramping <br />down. Higher rates may be used to react to special circumstances, for example <br />flood control and emergencies or when canyon flows exceed 2,000 cfs. <br /> <br />-Reclamation's historic operations to meet 300 cfs downstream from the <br />Gunnison Tunnel except in certain cases of significant drought (as determined by <br />reservoir elevation projections) and Unit emergencies when flows may be reduced <br />to 200 cfs as measured at the USGS Gage below the Gunnison Tunnel. <br />Such a decision is made only after coordinating with the State of Colorado and <br />other interested parties. <br /> <br />-Operate to honor April 2003 Black Canyon Federal Water Right settlement <br />agreement (300 cfs Federal reserved right, state instream flow spring right).2 <br /> <br />-Avoidance of Gunnison Gorge flow decreases that could damage redds after <br />October 15th for brown trout recruitment when practical. Avoidance of flow <br />decreases after April 15th for rainbow trout spawning when practical. Flow <br />decreases can lead to dewatering or ice damage to eggs. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />-Consistent with the authorized purposes ofthe Aspinall Unit, assist in meeting a <br />target of 100 cfs for the Redlands fish ladder from ,Jtioo April through September, <br />using storage water if necessary. Special releases of storage to meet migration <br />flows of 300 cfs and to provide 40 cfs for Redlands fish screen are not included <br />under No Action because no contract will be in place. It should be recognized <br />that adequate flows to operate the fish screen and provide adequate migration <br />flows will nevertheless be present much ofthe time due to natural flow <br />conditions, even in the absence of specific water deliveries, <br /> <br />-Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoir daily fluctuations limited by landslide <br />criteria, At Crystal, dry season (July-February) drawdown limited to 10 feet in 24 <br />hours and 15 feet in 72 hours. In wet season (March-June or as designated), <br />Crystal drawdown limited to 5 feet in 24 hours and 20 feet per week. At Morrow <br /> <br />2 Excerpts from agreement: "A federal reserved water right of 300 cfs or natural flow, whichever is less, <br />with a 1933 priority date. Such federal water right will satisfy the CWCB's existing instream flow <br />decree., .An instream flow water right under Colorado law with a 2003 priority date. Begirming with each <br />year's April I forecast from the Colorado River-River Forecast Center, if Blue Mesa is projected to fill and <br />spill by July 31, water beyond that which satisfies present and future obligations of the authorized purposes <br />of the Aspinall Unit, as specified in the Colorado River Storage Project Act, 43 D.S.C. 620 et seq" as <br />amended tllfough the date of this agreement, shall be held by the CWCB for decreed instream flow <br />purposes with a 2003 priority date, <br /> <br />4 <br />