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. . . ,MAY-15-1998 15:54 BOR LULND 9706633212 P.19/24 18 ". . . it Is'necessary to protect and manage sufficient nabitat to support self.sustaining populations of these species. One way to accomplish this is to provide long term protection of t~e habitat by acquiring or appropriating water rights to ensure instream flows. . . . Since t~is program sets in place a, mechanism and a commitment to assure that the instream flows aTe protected under State law, the Service wilJ consider these elements under Section 7 consultation at offsettina DrDiQ~t d8Dl~tion fmD!cts." Ruedi Reservoir is currently considered an important interim source of augmentation water for attaining instream flow levels required by the endangered fish on the main stem Colorado River. In order to offset the depletion Impacts created by initial Round II water sales and to further the Recovery Program in attaining its goal of ensuring sufficient Instream flows, the follOWing reasonable and prudent alternatives have been developed. 1. Maintain Current Environmental Commitments 2. Reclamation will continue to honor its environmental commitments made in the Round II FSES and the Service's 1987 Round II biological opinion. This includes the proviSion of 5,000 aCTe-feet of water annually to be delivered through the IS-mile reach of the Colorado River on a schedule determined by the Service and another 5,000 acre-feet of water through the IS-mile reach in 4 years out of S. Environmental commitments are listed in detail in chapter 6 of.t~e FSES. Interim Agreement for Release of Remaining Uncommitted Reserves Consistent with goals set forth in the Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan, Reclamation'and the Service, in consultation with t~e Colorado Water Conservation Board, will complete, by December 31, 1995, an agreement that will make the remaining uncommitted yield of Ruedi Reservoir available for release and delivery through the IS-mile reach, for the benefit of the Colorado River endangered ,fishes. This interim agreement is anticipated to be in place for approximately 15 year~1f1c terms of t~e agreement will take into account t~e environm&nral'commitments made by Reclamation In the Environmental Impact Statement on Round II sales and any operating constraints associated with the authorizing legislation for the reservoir. At the end of the interim agreement (whether the flow recommendations have been met or not), Reclamation may pursue additional water sales; however, these sales would be SUbject to review under section 7 of the Act.