WSP00505

• File Number: 8220.104.I
• Description: Flaming Gorge
• State: UT
• Basin: Yampa/White/Green
• Date: 7/31/1991
• Author: USDOI-USFWS
• Title: Habitat Use and Streamflow Needs of Rare and Endangered Fishes in the Green River-Utah
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

PREFACE

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Public law 93-205) provides for the
conservation of threatened and endangered species and their ecosystems.
Section 7 of the Act, and subsequent regulations, require federal agencies to
consider the needs of listed species, consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), and obtain biological opinions concerning potential effects
of projects involving listed species. Due to continuing water resource
development in the Green River basin, the USFWS and Bureau of Reclamation
(BR), in cooperation with the states of Colorado and Utah, have investigated
habitat needs of rare and endangered fishes. Government reports summarizing
results of these efforts (e.g., Miller et al. 19B2abc; Tyus et al. 19B7)
suggested that flows from Flaming Gorge Dam were adversely affecting habitats
of listed species. In 1986, BR and USFWS initiated the Flaming Gorge Study
(Interagency Agreement 6-AA-49-04070), a project involving government and
private researchers under the direction of the BR Biological Studies office in
Salt lake City, and the USFWS Colorado River Fishes Project station in Vernal,
Utah.

This report summarizes existing information on distribution, abundance,
life history, and habitats of endangered fishes in the Green River, Utah.
Flaming Gorge Study reports are summarized and referenced herein, and
recommendations for flow and other management activities are provided. The
metric system was used throughout the document and the following conversions
may be used to obtain measurements in the English system: kilomete3 (km) X
0.625 - miles; meter (m) X 3.281 - feet; cubic meter per second (m Is) X
35.336 = cubic feet per second (cfs). This document is the second of two
whose purpose is to evaluate habitat use of endangered fishes in the Green
River basin and to recommend flows for their .conservation. The first document
"Habitat use and streamflow needs of rare and endangered fi shes, Yampa River,
Colorado," was publ ished in 19B9 (Tyus and Karp 1989).

Further information about the rare and endangered Colorado River fishes
can be obtained from the Colorado River Coordinator, u.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, P.O. Box 25486 Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225.
Information about BR programs and the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam can be
obtained from the Regional Director, Bureau of Reclamation, P.D. Box 11668,
Salt lake City, Utah 84147.

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