WSP00625

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/12/1995
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: 1994 Annual Reports Package Part 1
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

COlORADD RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM
FY 94 ANNUAL PROJECT REPORT

RECOVERY PROGRAM
PROJECT NUMBER: 13

I. Title of Project: Develop, and refine year-round flow needs for
endangered fish in the upper Colorado River with emphasis on the Grand
Valley and IS-mile reach.

II. Principal Investigator(s): Frank Pfeifer, Project leader

Douglas B. Osmundson
U,S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Colorado River Fishery Project
764 Horizon Drive, South Annex A
Grand Junction, CO 81506-3946
Phone [phone], FAX [phone]
Internet: R6FFA [e-mail]

Ill. Project Summary:

Maintaining and enhancing habitat conditions for the endangered fishes
is crucial to their recovery. Most variables within the fishes
riverine environment are strongly influenced by the timing, duration
and magnitude of river flows. Important relations between flows and
fish life history needs have been pulled together, and in 1991, enabled
us to develop preliminary flow recommendations, A new study utilizing
videography and stream-bed cross-section monitoring provided additional
insight into flow/habitat relations and allowed us to refine the
preliminary flow recommendations. A draft report on this work was
released at the end of October 1994; a final report will be out at the
end of December 1994. A report on recommendations for the 18-mile
reach below the IS-mile reach will be completed in 1995.

IV. Study Schedule:
Initial year: FY 90
Final year: FY 93

V, Relationship to RIPRAP: Colorado River Action Plan: Mainstem, Colorado
River above Gunnison River, I.A.l. Initially identify year-round flows
needed for recovery. Colorado River from the Gunnison to the
Colorado-Utah State line, I.B.l. Initially identify year-round flows
needed for recovery.

VI, Accomplishment of FY 94 Tasks and Deliverables, Discussion of Initial
Findings and Shortcomings: A final report titled "Recommendations For
Flows in the IS-mile Reach During October-June for Maintenance and
Enhancement of Endangered Fish Populations in the Upper Colorado River"
was submitted in April 1991, This report drew together existing
informatfon concerning relationships between flow regimes and fish
communities. A new field effort was initiated in 1990 to provide
additional data to help determine quality and quantity of various
habitats under various flow conditions. The results of this work are
being used to validate provisional flow recommendations, particularly
the summer recommendations made in 1989 that were based on
computer-generated model output (PHABSIM), The additional field
studies have involved video-imagery flights flown by Reclamation in
conjunction with simultaneous on-the-ground habitat mapping of eight