Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

1. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

2. 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. 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

3. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program • STATES • Utah • Colorado • Wyoming • FEDERAL AGENCIES • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • U.S. Bureau of Reclamation • National Park Service • Western Area Power Administration INTEREST GROUPS • Water users (Colorado, Utah, Wyoming) • Environmental organizations • Colorado River Energy Distributors Association

4. Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus Humpback chub Gila cypha 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 Bonytail Gila elegans

5. Threats: Large Water depletion reservoirs Fish barriers Nonnative fish

6. Managing Nonnative Fish Research and Monitoring Stocking Endangered Fish Recovery Elements Habitat Development Habitat-Flow Management

7. Flowprotection • 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

16. Reach2: 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.

24. www.coloradoriverrecovery.org Questions Jana_Mohrman@fws.gov 303-236-4486

25. The End