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" ~ .j J SCOPING DOCUMENT PROPOSAL TO MODIFY THE OPERATION OF MCPHEE DAM AND ACQUIRE ADDITIONAL WATER FOR RELEASE TO THE DOLORES RIVER FOR FISH AND Wll.DLIFE PURPOSES DOLORES PROJECT MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO PURPOSE The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is preparing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposed action to: (1) modify the operation of McPhee Dam from the water release criteria established in the Dolores Project's 1977 Definite Plan Report (DPR) and Final Environmental Statement (FES) and; (2) acquire additional water for release to the Dolores River downstresm from McPhee Dam for fish and wildlife purposes. The EA is being prepared to comply with the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A). Reclamation will use the EA to determine if an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) should he prepared for the proposed action and whether to modify the operation of the dam and how much, if any, additional water to acquire. BACKGROUND McPhee Dam is the key feature of the Dolores Project and is located on the Dolores River approximately IS miles directly north of Cortez, Colorado. Reclamation operated the dam from its completion in 1984 (and subsequent filling of McPhee Reservoir in 1987) to June 1990 according to the release criteria established in the DPRIFES. That criteria specifies year-round releases of 20, 50, or 78 cubic feet per second (cfs) to the Dolores River downstresm from McPhee Dam. The primary purpose of the releases is to allow establishment of a trout fishery from the dam downstream to the Bradfield Bridge (about 12 miles downstresm). The specific release flows (20, 50, or 78 cfs) are determined by a "dry", "normal", or "wet" precipitation year. From 1984 until March 1990, releases from the dam were set at 78 cfs. A trout fishery, managed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CD OW), became established during that time in the Dolores River downstream to the Bradfield Bridge. However, precipitation during the winter of 1989-90 was the lowest in recorded history in the Dolores River drainage. A" dry" year determination was made by Reclamation on March I, 1990 in accordance with the DPRlFES operating criteria. Downstream releases from McPhee Dam were reduced from 78 cfs to 20 cfs on that same date. Trout Unlimited, the CDOW, and others immediately objected to the reduction in flow claiming that the estahlished trout fishery would be irreparably damaged. A short-term resolution of the issue was achieved after several meetings and negotiations hetween Reclamation, Indian and non-Indian project water users, Trout Unlimited, and the CDOW. An agreement between Reclamation and the Dolores Water Conservancy District was reached for an additional 6,000 acre-feet of project water to he released downstream from the dam through October 1990. Releases were incressed to 50 cfs by June 20, 1990 to minimize adverse effects on the trout fishery. In addition, an Interim Ooeratinl! Al!reement for operation of McPhee Dam from Novemher 1990 through Octoher 1993 was executed hetween Reclamation and the Dolores Water Conservancy District. The agreement provided for alternative dam operation until a long-term solution to the water release and trout fishery issue could he implemented. Since late 1990, Reclamation has been engaged in discussions with the Indian and non-Indian project water users, Trout Unlimited, CDOW, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other interested individuals and groups to 'I