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<br />o <br />C> <br />o <br />~ <br />GO <br />GO <br /> <br />The Recovery Program has five principal elements: (1) habitat management through provision <br />of instream flows, (2) habitat development and maintenance through non-flow options, (3) <br />stocking of native fish species, (4) management of non-native species and sportfishing, and (5) <br />research, monitoring, and data management. A critical element is the appropriation lacquisition <br />and protection of instream flows required for the recovery of the species, In regards to (1), <br />habitat management through provision of instream flows, the Recovery Program has conducted <br />a number of studies to develop flow recommendations in the Yampa River, Green River, <br />mainstem Colorado River which would contribute to the protection and maintenance of <br />endangered fish habitat. i <br /> <br />As directed by the Recovery Program, the Service is required to conduct flow quantification <br />studies to provide instream flow recommendations which will be submitted to the state water ~(I) <br />resources agencies for review, approval and implementation. Under this process, flow <br />recommendations have currently been developed by the Service in three separate studies using <br />a variety of flow methodologies on the Colorado and Yampa Rivers in Colorado. These '( _____, <br />recommendations were for the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River, extending from about,~ <br />Palisade to the confluence with the Gunnison River; and the Yampa River from Craig, Colorado . t <br />to the COlorado-Utah Stateline. Future studies will be conducted on the White, Dolores and <br />Gunnison Rivers. <br /> <br />The Recovery Program also outlines the procedures for Section 7 consultation~ ~e ~ ~ I <br />Endangered Species Act. In order to ensure whether progress toward recovery of the fish is 'eI ~~ <br />sufficient to allow for continued issuance of favorable Biological Opinions on various water ~ <br />projects, a number of agreements have been developed. These agreements clarify how the ~ <br />Recovery Program suffices as the reasonable and prudent alternative to offset jeopardy biological <br />opinions on depletion impacts related to new and existing water projects in the Upper Basin, and <br />include the Enforcement and Protection of Water and Water Rights and Section 7 Consultation, <br />Sufficient Progress and Historic Projects Agreementsl. <br /> <br />The Recovery Implementation Prol!ram Recoverv Action Plan lRIPRAP) <br />'l'"kt. e.IPeM==> 7~~ 1: .x5P~ <br />'flm. gg.:ument has been developed provide an ope IOnal plan for implementing the Recovery <br />Program, including development of the annual w. k plan and future budget needs. The RIPRAP <br />identifies feasible actIons necessary to recover the endangered fishes including schedules and <br />budgets for these activities. It also specifies those recovery actions which must be accomplished <br />in order for the Recovery Program to serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative to depletion <br />impacts of new and existing water projects, This document is an adaptive management plan, <br />as modifications to RIPRAP will be made annually according to changes in priorities, results of <br />ongoing research efforts and further development of compact entitlements. <br /> <br />I "Memorandum of Agreement Between the United States Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife <br />Service and the Colorado Water Conservation Board concerning the Enforcement and Protection of Water and Water <br />Rights", (Enforcement Agreement) adopted by the Board in September 21, 1993. "Section 7 Consultation, <br />Sufficient Progress, and Historic Projects Agreement", accepted by the Recovery Program October 15, 1993. <br /> <br />2 <br />