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'. 2 Project as defined in this MOU. An integral part of this process is the specific commitment by the Colorado River Water Conservation District (River District) to hold an annual River Operations meeting on Muddy Creek Reservoir in conjunction with operations meetings committed to by the Bureau of Reclamation (~lamation) on Ruedi and Green Mountain Reservoirs, as set forth in the Muddy Creek. Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Chapter 5.0). The meetings will include concerned Federal, State, and local government agenci es, as well as water user, conservat i on, and other groups. At these annual meetings, which will include representatives of the Fish and Wildlife Service, agellCJ input and publ ic comments will be addressed within the operational c~traints, demands, and flexibilities of the water management agencies (the River District and Reclamation>. The Service believes that the provision of flows in the IS-mile reach is important to ~ continued survival and recovery of the rare Colorado River fishes. The il5tream flows provided under this MOU (which could increase the flow by 50 cfs for a 30-day period) wi 11 contribute incrementally to the Service's goal of protecting flows in tile 15-mile reach for the maintenance of habitat for the rare Colorado River fishes and will offset the depletion impacts of the ~ddy Creek. Project. II. Puroose The purpose of tIIis MOU is to provide flows from Muddy Creek. Reservoir to the 15-mile reach of the Colorado River for the rare Colorado River fishes to offset the depletion i~acts of the MUddy Creek Project as identified in the Biological Opillion for the Muddy Creek Project. I II. Authorities Fi sh and Wil dlife Coordi nat i on Act, 16 U. S. C. Sec. 661; Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 742fCa)(4); Endangered Species Act of 1973, 16 U.S.C. Sec. 1531; and Cooperative AgneEllt for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fi~ Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, dated January 21-22, 1988. IV. Soecial TellIS and Conditions 1. The River Mstrict will determine, on an annual basis, the amount of water actually aViilable for operational releases to provide flows to the IS-mile reach for tR rare Colorado River fishes. The criteria to determine availabiJit,r of water for this purpose include: