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<br />. " <br /> <br />1. INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam (FGD) to produce flows adequate to support <br />endangered fishes inhabi~ing the Green River is a high priority of the Colorado <br />River Recovery Implementation Program (RIP). Closure of FGD in 1962 caused <br />significant alterations in magnitude and timing of Green River flows, resulting <br />in modification of fish habitat in the system. The Bureau of Reclamation <br />(Reclamation) entered into Section 7 consultation in 1980 with the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service (Service) on the operation of FGD. Research concerned with <br />defining flow/habitat requirements of endanger~d fishes in the Green River system <br />has been ongoing, and the Biological Opinion for operation of FGD, which was <br />issued by the Service in 1992, was based on the best information available to <br />date. The Biological Opinion concluded that "historic" procedures (prior to <br />1992) for operation of FGD would likely jeopardize the continued existence of <br />endangered fishes in the Green River. A Reasonable and Prudent Alternative, <br />which would offset jeopardy, was also identified in the consultation. The <br />Reasonable and Prudent Alternative included the following elements. <br /> <br />1. Change operation of FGD so that Green River flow and temperature <br />regimes would more closely resemble historic natural conditions. <br />Under this element, seasonal flow recommendations were established <br />in an attempt to enhance the status of endangered and other native <br />fishes in the Green River system downstream of FGD. Flow <br />recommendations for spring, summer/fall, and winter periods were <br />based on information presented in the Consolidated Biology and <br />Hydrology Report. Recommendations for each period, however, were <br />supported by differing levels of biological and physical data, with <br />the most comprehensive data set covering the summer/fall period. <br /> <br />2. Beginning in spring 1992, initiate a 5-year research program, <br />including implementation of research (test) flows in spring and <br />.winter, to provide data for potential refinement of seasonal flow <br />recommendations. Except for specific winter/spring research flows <br />during the 5-year research program, Green River flows will resemble <br />the historic natural hydrograph. This element was included for <br />evaluation of biological and physical responses of the Green River <br />ecosystem to the recol1lllended flow conditions. Additionally. because <br />winter/spring flow recommendations were based on limited <br />information, more research during these seasonal periods is required <br />to refine these flow recommendations. <br /> <br />3. Determine the feasibility of releasing warmer water from FGD during <br />the late spring/summer period, and investigate the feasibility of <br />retrofitting 1"iver bypass tubes to include power geAeration for <br />facilitation of greater water releases in spring. <br /> <br />4. Legal protection of Green River flows below FGD. <br /> <br />5. Initiate discussions with the Service after conclusion of the 5 <br />years of research to examine further refinement of recol1lllended <br />winter/spring Green River flows. <br /> <br />Flaming Gorge Studies <br /> <br />1 <br />