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<br />. <br /> <br />.... . ~ ""lilt <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />O~p~R1MENT OF THE INrE <br />CO, ~', ~/O <br />"'~................... 'l' <br /> <br /> <br />U.S. Department of the Interior <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />Eastern Colorado Area Office <br /> <br />8IJb ""'?'"' -:--...,.. 110\\. <br />"EAU OF RECL~~~ <br /> <br />NEWS RELEASE <br /> <br />COORDINATED RESERVOIR OPERATIONS <br />RELEASE OF INFLOWS TO BE MADE FOR ENDANGERED FISH: <br /> <br />The Coordinated Reservoirs Operations Team has been continuing to track the snow pack and <br />predicted runoff for the Colorado River basin, A decision was made by the team on Thursday, <br />May 14, to attempt to enhance the peak flows at Cameo for the benefit of the endangered <br />fish. Of the participating reservoirs, Green Mountain, Granby and Ruedi reservoirs appear to have <br />some ability to release more inflows to enhance the peak flow at Cameo. The remaining <br />participating reservoirs are at or near their maximum safe releases. At this time, the maximum <br />releases at the above reservoirs are anticipated to be up to; 1500 cfs at Green Mountain, 350 cfs <br />at Granby and 900 cfs at Ruedi reservoirs, It is anticipated that these releases will occur in the <br />period of June 5th to June 10th. <br /> <br />The peak flows at Cameo are currently predicted to be in the range of 20,000 to 22,000 cfs, which <br />is below recognized flood stages. The team will continue to assess runoff conditions and will <br />reduce the releases to enhance peak flows if there is any possibility the releases would contribute <br />to flooding. <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 bony taiL 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 Coiorado River Basin of Colorado, These <br />entities include ownerloperators 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 />