Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
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Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
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- 1. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
- 2.
- Enforce the ESA and escalate the conflict
- Seek amendment to the Endangered Species Act
- Seek exemptions from the ESA
- Identify the facts and negotiate a solution
Upper Colorado River Basin: In the mid 1970s, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service determined that any further depletion of water
from the upper basin would result in jeopardy to endangered
fish.
- 3.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
- Western Area Power Administration
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- Water users (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
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- Environmental organizations
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- Colorado River Energy Distributors Association
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
- 4. Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius Humpback chub Gila
cypha Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus Bonytail Gila elegans
Green River is important river for recovery because of the flood
plain habitat, there are 2 spawning populations of Co pikeminnow
and best chance for razorbacks
- 5.
- Water depletion reservoirs
- Fish barriers Nonnative fish
Threats:
- 6. Recovery Elements Habitat-Flow Management Habitat
Development Stocking Endangered Fish Managing Nonnative Fish
Research and Monitoring
- 7. Flow protection
- Modified operation of Federal dams/ reservoirs
- Improved efficiency of irrigation systems
- Cooperative reservoir operations
- Partnered in a new water storage project (Elkhead)
Elkhead Reservoir
- 8. Year-round protection of flows in Reach 2
- 9. The Green River Reaches
- 10. ESA Compliance on the Green River
- In Utah some 200 water projects depleting nearly 600KAF/year
have received ESA compliance under the Recovery Program.
- 54 of those projects have been small depletions averaging less
than 100 af/year. Some larger depletions include oil and gas
projects, Green River Farms (currently under consultation) and some
on the Duchesne River
- 11. Some one here could have a depletion that the Recovery
Program is covering
- 12. Green River Policy 1994
- Flows protected Reach 2 from FG to the Duchesne
- Post Nov 1994 WR Approvals subordinate to bypass of fish flows
Summer and Fall
- Annually select target 1,800-1,100 cfs for Summer
- Annually select target 2,400-1,100 cfs for Fall
- Measure targets at Jensen UT
- 20 cfs set aside for critical needs with priority over fish
flows
- 13. Table 5.5.Flow and temperature recommendations by
hydrologic condition for Reach 2 (Yampa River to White River) to
benefit endangered fishes in the Green River downstream of Flaming
Gorge Dam. a
- 14.
- 15.
- 16. Reach 2: Spring Peak Flows
- Accomplish: in-channel maintenance
- Green River synchronized to Yampa River Peak
- Inundate floodplain in Ouray area for 2 weeks in 4 of 10
years
- Greater than 18,600 cfs connects to backwater
- Bankfull flows in 1 of 2 years
- 17. Maintenance of Channel Complexity and connectivity
- 18. Backwaters provide warm, food-rich areas to grow and
condition young Razorback suckers and Colorado pikeminnow
- 19. High flows remove algae and silt, rework spawning
substrates, prevent channel narrowing
- 20. Reach 2: Winter Flows
- Accomplish: a stable environment for young fish, it is assumed
that native fish (old or young) feed when the water is near
freezing, therefore it's best if they expend as little energy as
possible, i.e. don't have to go searching for a different habitat
due to fluctuating flows.
- 21. Reach 3: measured at USGS gage near Green River, Utah
- Spring Peaks 39,400cfs to 8,300 cfs
- Summer through Winter base flow 4,700 cfs to 1,300 cfs
- Flooded off-channel habitats will benefit young Colorado
pikeminnow and razorback suckers in lower Reach 3 and humpback chub
in Desolation and Gray Canyons.
- 22.
- 23.
- 24. [email_address] 303-236-4486 www.coloradoriverrecovery.org
Questions
- 25. The End