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<br />. <br /> <br />. Concerning the status of the fish, the Service will maintain authority over the <br />determination of whether there has been an improvement, as it will over the , <br />determination of whether there has been a significant decline in fish populations related <br />to depletions. <br /> <br />. We support the permanent dedication and protection of 10,825 acre-feet of water to <br />meet base flow needs. We understand that until the source of this supply is specified, <br />the approach for its legal protection cannot be, but believe that its delivery to the 15 <br />Mile Reach should be legally protected as a condition of the programmatic biological <br />opinion. <br /> <br />. In addition to this permanent supply of 10,825 acre-feet, we support the lease of at <br />, least 10,82;> acre-feet ofwaterJrom Ruedi.reservoir. Mo~e than 10,825 acre feet of ' <br />Ruedi water should be leased if it is available arid can delivered within existing <br />constraints to the 15 Reach. <br /> <br />. We support the conditions for the opinion offered by the Service on recovery <br />agreements and long-term funding. Any new RIPRAP items added to the : <br />programmatic biological opiniori upon reinitiation of consultation should be covered <br />by additions to the recovery agreements.' , . , <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. We believe that either the protection for remaining SUrplus Green Mountain water and ' <br />water made available by Grand Valley Water Management (GVWM) or the <br />implementation of Coordinated Reservoir Operations (phase i) to deliver water to the <br />15 Mile Reach (within current parameters) be required for Category I depletions. <br />, ' <br /> <br />: <br /> <br />. The delivery of the remaining surplus Green Mountain water and all water made <br />available by GVWM should be legally protected and secure from upstream and ' <br />intervening diversions all the way to the 15 Mile Reach. <br /> <br />. We support the newRIPRAP item that describes the Coordinated Management of <br />Water Division V Facilities, Phase II, (with the specific provisio!l that the <br />subordination of the Shoshone call exclusively for delivery of water to the 15 Mile <br />Reach be thoroughly examined in this study) and the Fisheries Management Plan for <br />the reach from Rifle to the State Line. We realize that until the feasibility of <br />Coordinated Reservoir Operations, Phase II, is assessed a target cannot be specified <br />as a condition of the programmatic biological opinion, but expect a target to be added <br />to the opinion once that study is completed. However, missing this target would not in <br />itself reopen the programmatic opinion. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. We support the goals of the propagation components in the RIPRAP, recognizing that <br />stocked fish cannot be counted toward the recovery goal of self-sustaining, persistent <br />populations. The recruitment of the progeny of stocked fish into the wild populations, <br />however, should count towards this goal. <br /> <br />4 <br />