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<br />! I <br />II <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />! I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />CONE/KSIUT-CR FY-99 <br />Rivers:UCR:Ruedi Reservoir releases <br />Mail Stop 65] 15 <br /> <br />FEB 81998 <br /> <br />Peter Evans, Director <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> <br />Dear Peter: <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Conservation Board (Board) has requested that the Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(Service) report on the water released in 1998 from Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish. This letter <br />responds to that request, and also serves as a concluding report to fu]fill the Service's contractual <br />obligation with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). This year the report covers releases from <br />Ruedi and Wolford Mountain Reservoirs and the effects of the releases in the 15-Mile Reach of the <br />Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado. <br /> <br />In summary, 1998 was a moderately dry year, with a s]ightly below average runoff season followed <br />by relatively low flows in late summer. The target flow for August, September and October was <br />],240 cfs based upon the Services flow recommendations for an 80% exceedance year. Subsequent to <br />the approval of a water delivery contract between Reclamation, CWCB and the Service, 31,650 acre <br />feet of water was available from Ruedi and 6,000 acre feet available from Wolford Mountain <br />Reservoir. <br /> <br />When flows began to decline in late August, the HUP Managing Entities began to meet and discuss <br />flow conditions. By August 26, flows at the top of the Reach had dropped to 1,360 cfs and were <br />continuing to fall. The Service then informed Reclamation that Ruedi water was needed in order to <br />meet the fish target flows. Releases from the 5,000 BO pool in Ruedi Reservoir began on August 28, <br />1998, and continued for 67 days as water from other pools became avai]able. Ruedi releases ended <br />on October 31, ] 998. During that period, a total of 20,798 acre feet of water was released from Ruedi <br />Reservoir that was accounted to endangered fish purposes. Because of the restrictions of 250 to 300- <br />cfs on the Fryingpan River below Ruedi Reservoir not all of the 31,560 acre feet that was available <br />could be' used in 1998 (an accounting of the release data is attached). During the late summer period <br />(August 26 to September 25), an additional 6,000 acre feet of water was released from Wolford <br />Mountain Reservoir for endangered fish in accordance with the Wolford Mountain Reservoir <br />Bio]ogical Opinion. Subsequent to September 25, an additional 5,500 acre feet of water was released <br />from Wolford Mountain Reservoir to help meet the target flows while reducing the impact on the <br />Fryingpan River. see Figure I and Tab]e ]. <br /> <br />23 <br />