BOARD02631

• Board Meeting Date: 3/29/1999
• Description: WSP Section - Colorado River Basin Issues - Ruedi Reservoir - Proposed Contract for the Release of 21,650 AF to Endangered Fish in the 15-Mile Reach
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Henry Maddux
Director,
Recovery Program

Agenda Item 211 Attachment 3

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UPPER COIORAID RIVER
ENDANGERED FISH
RECOVERY PRffiRAM

Ralph Morgenweck
Chairman,
Implementation Committee

U.S. Fish and Wildlne Service ' P.O. Box 25486 . Denver Federal Center ' Denver, CO 80225 ' (303) 236.298S . Fax [phone]
COINElKSIUT oCR FY-99
Rivers:UCR:Ruedi Reservoir releases
Mail Stop 65115

. FEB 18 1999

RECEIVED
MM? 0 2 1999

Peter Evans, Director
Colorado Water Conservation Board
13 13 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203

Coiorado Water
Conservation Board

Dear Peter:

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (Board) has requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) report on the water released in 1998 from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish. This
letter responds to that request, and also serves as a concluding report to fulfill the Service's
contractual obligation with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). This year the report covers
releases from Ruedi and Wolford Mountain Reservoirs and the effects of the releases in the
IS-Mile Reach of the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado.

. In summary, 1998 was a moderately dry year, with a slightly below average runoff season
followed by relatively low flows in late summer. The target flow for August, September and
October was 1,240 cfs based upon the Services flow recommendations for an 80"10 exceedance
year. -Subsequent to the approval of a water delivery contract between Reclamation, CWCB and
the Service, 31,650 acre feet of water was available from Ruedi and 6,000 acre feet available from'
Wolford Mountain Reservoir.

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When flows began to decline in late August, the HUP Managing Entities began to meet and
discuss flow conditions. By August 26, flows at the top of the Reach had dropped to 1,360 cfs
and were continuing to fall. The Service then informed Reclamation that Ruedi water was needed
in order to meet the fish target flows. Releases from the~,OOO BO pool in Ruedi Reservoir began
on August 28, 1998, and continued for 67 days as water from other pools became available.
Ruedi releases ended on October 31, 1998. During that period, a total of20,798 acre feet of
water was released from Ruedi Reservoir that was accounted to endangered fish purposes.
Because of the restrictions of250 to 300-cfs on the Fryingpan River below Ruedi Reservoir not
all of the 31,560 acre feet that was available could be used in 1998 (an accounting of the release
data is attached). During the late summer period (August 26 to September 25), an additional
6,000 acre feet of water was released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir for endangered fish in
accordance with the Wolford Mountain Reservoir Biological Opinion. Subsequent to September
25, an additional 5,SOO acre feet of water was released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir to help
meet the target flows while reducing the impact on the Fryingpan River, see Figure I and Table I.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service . U.S. Bureau of Rectamation . Western Area Power Administration. Colorado. Utah . Wyoming
Environmental Defense Fund ' National Audubon Society . Colorado Wildlne F_ration ' Wyoming Wildlne F_ration
Colorado Water Congress . Utah Water Users Association . Wyoming Water Development Association . Colorado River Energy Distributors Association