WSP00948

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: Colorado River Endangered Fish Program
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 9/1/2004
• Author: Robert Muth
• Title: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program - Recovery Program Directors Update - September 2004
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

public is invited to provide written comments to Reclamation by November 15,
2004. Public hearings also have been scheduled in Utah and Wyoming during
October 2004. The draft EIS describes the effects of modifying Flaming Gorge
Dam operations io proteci and a~sist in . ecovery of the populations QJid
designated critical habitat of four endangered fishes, while maintaining all
authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Unit of the Colorado River Storage
Project, particularly those related to the development of water resources in
accordance with the Colorado River Compact. The draft EIS describes and
analyzes the potential effects of two alternatives. Under the No Action
Alternative. the dam would continue to be operated under the conditions
imposed by the 1992 Biological Opinion. Under the Action Alternative, the
dam would be operated in accordance with the flow and temperature regimes
specified in the Fla'", and Temperature Recommendationsfor Endangered Fish
in the Green River Downs/ream of Flaming Gorge Dam (Muth et al. 2000).

. The Grand Valley Project canal system in western Colorado was retrofitted
. with canal checks and automation in 2002, and was operated very aggressively
this summer to reduce river diversions. The reducti'on In river diversions helps
to build a surplus in Green Mountain Reservoir, which may be available for
endangered fish augmentation in the 15-Mile Reach. These improvements are
tied to water releases from the Historical Users Pool (HUP) in Green Mountain
Reservoir, which the Managing Entities Group oversees. This coordinated
process plays a major role in managing water resources to meet human and
endangered fish needs. The Contract and Grant of Easement for the
construction of the Highline Lake pump station was signed on June 24, 2004,
after a long period of negotiations. Construction is expected to be completed
by fall-winter of2004. This will complete the last component of Grand Valley
Water Management, allowing optimum use of Grand Valley Project water.

. Recognizing the low carryover storage in the Upper Colorado River Basin
reservoirs and generally drier than average conditions in 2004, the Service
initially set the target flows for the IS-Mile Reach at 400 cfs. Unlike 2002 and
2003, rains have not materialized so far in September and the 400 cfs target has
not been increased even though summer flows have generally remained above
this target. If hydrologic conditions improve in the basin in October, some
surplus HUP water may become available from Green Mountain Reservoir and
the target will be increased.

. A new 5-year lease of water from Steamboat Lake was completed in late
summer 2004. So far this summer, 1,367 acre-feet of water has been released
from Steanlboat Lake to support late-summer target flows in the lower Yampa
River.

. From the Recovery Program's inception in 1988 through June 30, 2004, the
Service has consulted on 773 projects with a potential to deplete a total of
1.728,897 acre-feet in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

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