Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
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Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
Transcript
1. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
2.
Choices
Enforce the ESA and escalate the conflict
File lawsuits
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.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
National Park Service
Western Area Power Administration
STATES
Utah
Colorado
Wyoming
INTEREST GROUPS
Water users (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming)
Environmental organizations
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.
Large
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
Leases & contracts
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.