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<br />2 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br />J <br />J <br />I <br />1 <br />1 <br />I <br />I <br />') <br />I <br />.1 <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />1 <br /> <br />The study goal was amended in 1999 to submit instream flow recommendations to the <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) for the Yampa River and Colorado River in the <br />IS-Mile Reach. This assignment was made following a decision by the CWCB to withdraw the <br />1995 water rights filings for the two rivers instead of defending the filings in water court. The <br />1995 filings were based on recommendations made by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(USFWS) in regard to recovery of endangered fish species [Modde and Smith (1995) and <br />Osmundson et at. (1995)]. The CWCB at that time felt the 1995 recommendations had become <br />too controversial due to lack of support from the Service. A tentative date for instream flow <br />recommendations was set, but this date has been moved back a year due to difficulties with <br />contract administration and flow recommendations are expected to be submitted in August 2003. <br /> <br />The CWCB also expressed a desire to have a more standardized approach for instream <br />flow filings for rivers having endangered fish concerns. Up to now, all flow study concerning <br />endangered fish have used different methodologies. The lack of consistency was viewed by the <br />CWCB as troublesome. By using the same methodology for both the Yampa and the Colorado <br />River, it was thought that some of the scientific and social difficulties could be avoided. Also, <br />this study will provide guidance and recommendations for the design and evaluation of future <br />flow studies. <br /> <br />Study Objectives: <br /> <br />1). Model fish habitat availability on warm water sections of three rivers (Yampa, <br />Colorado and Dolores) using the established methods (ld models) and evaluate the <br />practically of using 2d flow models to quantify fish habitat. <br /> <br />2). Determine community structure, density and biomass for fish assemblages for river <br />reaches listed above. <br /> <br />3). Test for relationships between habitat availability and fish abundance. <br /> <br />4). Develop and validate methodologies that use 1-D and 2-D flow models for the <br />Division of Wildlife to use for minimum instream flow recommendations for the warm <br />water sections ofthe Yampa and Colorado rivers. <br />