WSP05885

• File Number: 8240.200.38.A
• Description: Coordinated Reservoir Operations
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1998
• Author: CWCB
• Title: 1998 Coordinated Reservoir Operations Bypasses for Endangered Fish - Annual Summary of Operations for 1998 to Benefit the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

U.S. Department of the Interior
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION
Eastern Colorado Area Office

NEWS RELEASE

ANNUAL PEAK FLOW AUGMENTATION FOR ENDANGERED FISH:
RESERVOIR OPERATORS SEEKING PUBLIC INPUT

Some of the Colorado River Basin's native inhabitants aTe endangered: the Colorado squawfish,
humpback chub, razorback sucker and bony tail. Once found in abundant populations, these fish now
struggle for survival in their own native waters_ In 1988, the States of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah
along with multiple federal agencies and private entities established the Upper Colorado River Recovery
Program to recover these endangeTed fish while allowing for continued water development

As a part of the Recovery Program, a group of reservoir owners and water management entities have
developed an annual Coordinated Reservoirs Operations program to enhance peak Tiver flows to assist the
recovery of the endangered fish. At 7-00pm, May 20,1998 in the Colorado Room at the Hotel Colorado,
Glenwood Springs, the public is invited to come and provide input on the efforts of the Coordinated
Reservoirs Operations Team. The Team will pTesent operational plans depicting releases of inflow for the
endangered fish from participating reservoirs. Reservoirs that currently participate in the operation
include: Dillon, Green Mountain, Williams Fork, Wolford Mountain and Ruedi.

This meeting is an important opportunity in the annual process for the Coordinated Reservoir Operations
Team, the public and other interested parties to consider peak river flow augmentation possibilities and
implications. Since each year presents a different set of hydrologic conditions, * ranging from dry, to
average, to flood, annual meetings are necessaTY to help determine the best course of action fOT all
potentially effected parties. This year the Team has determined that there is an opportunity to augment
peak flows to improve habitat for the endangered fish.

If you have any questions or need more information about the Operations Team, please contact Malcolm
Wilson at the Bureau of Reclamation's Eastern Colorado Area Office, 11056 West County Road 18E,
Loveland, Colorado 80537-9711, telephone [phone], or send e-mail to [e-mail].

The Coordinated Reservoir Operations Team is comprised of major reservoir owner/operators representatives
and water management entities involved with water use in the Colorado River Basin of Colorado_ These entities
include participating reservoir owner/ operators, the Colorado River Water Conservation District. the Recovery
Program, Fish and Wildlife Service, National Weather Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Colorado Water
Conservation Board, Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Colorado Division of Water Resources.

20