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<br />II <br /> <br />These improvements will reduce releases from the HUP to the Grand Valley Project for irrigation <br />and result in additional surplus in the HUP. Additional surplus HUP water to be delivered and <br />protected in the second phase is in excess of the capacity of the Grand Valley Power Plant canal <br />system, This protection will be in place by the end of April 2000, or by a later date if <br />subsequently modified in the RAP, The Recovery Program is working with Reclamation, the <br />State of Colorado, and water users to legally protect and deliver additional surplus HUP water for <br />nonconsumptive municipal/recreational uses and thereby indirectly benefit endangered fish habitat <br />in the 15-Mile Reach, Recent studies for the Grand Valley Water Management Plan biological <br />assessment have demonstrated that substantial water could be made available if flow protection <br />agreements are put in place (Table I). This water may not be available every year and it would <br />not be released in years when it is not needed for the fish, <br /> <br />Spring peak enhancement <br /> <br />The Recovery Program implemented Coordinated Reservoir Operations for the Colorado River in <br />1997 and augmented spring peak flows by 2,000 cfs, In 1998, Coordinated Reservoir Operations <br />added 2,500 cfs to the peale Augmentation of the peak is to occur in all but extremely dry or <br />extremely wet years or when peak flows are between 12,900 cfs and 26,600 cfs in the 15-Mile- <br />Reach, During extremely wet years the peak exceeds this range without augmentation. Current <br />plans are to augment spring peak flows by as much as possible for up to 10 days, by bypassing <br />reservoir inflows during the peak, Although Coordinated Reservoir Operations is required to <br />meet Recovery Program goals, participation by individual facility operators on a year-to-year <br />basis is voluntary, A goal of Coordinated Reservoir Operations is to increase both the magnitude <br />and duration of the spring peak. <br /> <br />This year, the Recovery Program initiated Phase II of spring peak augmentation through a <br />"Coordinated Management of Colorado Water Division Number 5 Facilities - Phase II Study," <br />The study is intended to assess water management facilities and operations that can be <br />coordinated to benefit fish habitat primarily during the spring peak. The goal is for project <br />sponsors to satisfy project purposes, but to utilize any flexibility that may exist to enhance spring <br />flows for endangered fish, Possible options include new projects, long- and short-term leases or <br />delivery agreements and using or moving winter water in excess of fish needs to meet water <br />demand or fish needs during the spring, The intent is to provide additional water up to <br />approximately 20,000 acre-feet/year of water for spring peak flow enhancement, without <br />diminishing project yield or causing project sponsors to incur significant costs, When additional <br />water of approximately 20,000 acre-feet is available, it could provide 1,008 cfs per day for a 10 <br />day period, <br /> <br />2. Habitat Development and Maintenance Element <br /> <br />Floodplain habitats have been identified as important for endangered fishes, especially the <br />razorback sucker. These habitats have been lost over time due to channelization, dikes, bank <br />