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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />t'1~c!:'~ - ) <br />.0,;,,_ _ll. <br /> <br />~..? "R1IAENT OF THE IlIrE <br /> <br />~~""""~1' <br /> <br /> <br />U.S. Department of the Interior JON 0 5 1997 <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />Eastern Colorado Area Office <br /> <br />Colorado w",~, <br />Conservation L..: _' ~~^ <br /> <br />8 ...".... -::- - ~ <br />IJI/EAU OF RECL"IA,,1\O <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />COORDINATED RESERVOIR OPERA TrONS <br />RELEASE OF INFLOWS FOR ENDANGERED FISH TO BE CUT BACK: <br /> <br />The Coordinated Reservoirs Operations Team has been continuing to track the snow pack and <br />predicted runoff for the Colorado River basin, Due to high flows in the Colorado at Cameo, the <br />team made a decision on Tuesday, June 3, to cut back on any releases to enhance the peak <br />flows at Cameo for the benefit of the endangered fish. Of the participating reservoirs, Green <br />Mountain, and Ruedi reservoirs have been making releases of inflows to enhance the peak flows <br />at Cameo. The remaining participating reservoirs have been operating under normal guidelines, <br />The releases at the above reservoirs are anticipated to be cut back to; 1000 cfs at Green Mountain <br />and 500 cfs at Ruedi reservoirs which represent releases for normal operations for this time of <br />year, It is anticipated that these cut backs will be achieved by June 4th. <br /> <br />The peak flows at Cameo are currently predicted to be in the range of 26,000 to 28,000 cfs, which <br />is at or near recognized flood stages, The team does not anticipate making further releases to <br />enhance peak flows this season, though the river may experience high flows due to natural runoff, . <br /> <br />The Coordinated Reservoir Operations Team was established as part of the Recovery Program <br />for Endangered Fish in the! Upper Colorado River Basin. Four native fish species that inhabit the <br />Colorado River Basin are federally listed as endangered: Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, <br />razorback sucker and bonytail. Each of these four species was once abundant in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. The purpose of the Coordinated Reservoir Operations is to coordinate <br />discretionary releases of inflow to help enhance peak flows. The enhancement of peak flows will <br />improve habitats for Colorado squawfish and may restore some floodplain habitats to assist <br />recovery of these endangered species. <br /> <br />If you have any questions or need more information about the Operations Team, please contact <br />Malcolm Wilson at the Bureau of Reclamation's Eastern Colorado Area Office, 11056 West County <br />Road 18E, Loveland, Colorado 80537-9711, (970) 667-4410, mwilson@gp.usbr.gov. <br /> <br />### <br /> <br />The Coordinated Reservoir Operations Team is comprised of major reservoir owner/operators representatives <br />and water management entities involved with water use in the Colorado River Basin of Colorado, These <br />entities include owner/operators of Green Mtn., Ruedi, Dillon, Williams Fork, Wolford Mtn, and Homestake <br />reservoirs, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Recovery Program, Fish and Wildlife Service, <br />National Weather Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Water Conservation Board, Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife and the Colorado Division of Water Resources, <br /> <br />. <br />