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<br />The Dallas Creek biological opinion contains similar language to cover the 17,200 <br />af of depletion. 7 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Reclamation has undertaken several actions to comply with these biological <br />opinions and is in the process of fully complying with and fulfilling the <br />reasonable and prudent alternatives (RP A's) for both the Dallas Creek and <br />Dolores Projects. Completion of the Aspinall Operations EIS is part of the <br />process in fully complying with the opinions. One goal of Reclamation and the <br />Fish and Wildlife Service is to arrive at a preferred alternative in the Aspinall EIS <br />process that fully satisfies the RP A's in the Dallas Creek and Dolores opinions. <br />While fully satisfying the RPA's for Dallas Creek and Dolores is pending <br />completion of the Aspinall EIS, there are Reclamation and Aspinall Unit activities <br />that have taken place in support of protecting endangered fish habitat, developing <br />the 2003 Flow Recommendations, and in support of developing an Aspinall Unit <br />preferred alternative. For example: <br /> <br />-5 years of research flows were provided to develop the Flow Recommendations <br />and to better determine the flow needs for endangered fish and their habitat in the <br />Gunnison River and downstream ofthe confluence, <br />-since 1995 water has been provided for the Redland's fish ladder and for <br />migration flows downstream from the Redlands. <br />-since the early 1990' s Reclamation has worked to "bundle" excess water into <br />spring peaks for aquatic habitat improvement. in ~rQoc t3 aeeBn.pMtID. merB <br />Rahitat ..-:"Qd: v\itk thg 7:atgr. <br />-increased protection of base flows through a State of Colorado instream flow <br />right on the Gunnison River and through Reclamation's operations to maintain at <br />least 300 cfs in the Gunnison Gorge except in periods of extreme drought or <br />emergencies. <br />-reoperations per biological opinions of Flaming Gorge on the Green River, a <br />tributary to the Colorado River. <br />-provision of water from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish habitat. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Discretion <br /> <br />Reclamation is responsible for decision making associated with reservoir operations and <br />the interpretation of hydrology, operation planning, and dam safety. While there is broad <br />discretion in operations, some operating criteria can be considered non-discretionary. <br />Non-discretionary operations will be included in the No Action and all action alternatives <br />and therefore it is important to document them at the beginning of the EIS. Examples of <br />operations that are non-discretionary are: <br /> <br />-following drawdown restrictions at Morrow Point and Crystal Reservoirs related to <br />landslides as described. <br /> <br />7 It is recognized that current Dallas Creek Project depletions are less than 17,200 afbecause project water <br />supplies are not being fully utilized at this time, <br /> <br />8 <br />