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<br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agenda Item 13 <br />January 22-23, 2003 Board Meeting <br />Page 5 of5 <br /> <br />capacity to test the ability of those operations to conserve sediment resources. An environmental <br />assessment for the 2002-2004 experimental test flow was completed in September 2002. The <br />experiment has two options for special releases depending upon hydrologic conditions and sediment <br />inputs into the Colorado River from the Paria River during the late summer and fall monsoon season. <br />That sediment input is what the experimental releases will attempt to mobilize to rebuild beaches <br />and help benefit endangered fishes. <br /> <br />The primary purposes of the Water Year 2002-2004 experimental flows are to improve retention of <br />sediment resources in the Colonido River Ecosystem and to benefit native fish, prirnarily the <br />endangered Humpback Chub. The secondary purpose of the experiment is to improve the Lees <br />Ferry trout fishery through reductions in Rainbow Trout densities, which are expected to result in <br />improved growth rates and health of the remaining trout, and preserve the blue ribbon character of <br />that fishery. <br /> <br />Sediment inputs were not sufficient to run flows for sediment conservation purposes this year. Thus, <br />beginning in January and continuing through March 2003, releases will range between 20,000 cfs <br />and 5,000 cfs in attempts to reduce spawning and recruitment of non-native fish. The high flows <br />will be held for about 9 hours at a time and the low flows for about 8 hours, with the remaining <br />hours being in transition. Release volumes during January, February and March will be 788,000, <br />712,000 and 788,000 acre-feet respectively, with daily average flows of around 12,800 cfs. The total <br />release volume for the year will still be 8.23 million acre-feet. The environmental assessment <br />docurnents can be found on Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region website. <br /> <br />Staff has also been intensively involved in determining which activities should be part of the <br />strategic plan and the prioritization of those activities and the development of the annual work plan <br />and program budget. <br /> <br />Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Goals: On N<Jvember 25, 2002 Earth Justice and the <br />Grand Canyon Trust filed a "60-day Notice of Intent to Sue" the Secretary of Interior and the U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service stating that the population goals for recovery are too low. Specifically, in <br />the case of Humpback Chub, they are less than the population numbers the Service initially <br />concluded warranted listing of the species. They further claim the goals are not based on the best <br />possible science, rely to heavily on hatchery-raised fish and ignore adequate habitat restoration. A <br />copy of the "Notice of Intent to Sue" is attached. <br /> <br />Attachments <br /> <br />Flood Protection. Water Project Plamiing and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection <br />Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning <br />