Stretching Existing Supplies Incentive to Change • Endangered Fish Recovery Programs – Upper Colorado – San Juan River.
Download ReportTranscript Stretching Existing Supplies Incentive to Change • Endangered Fish Recovery Programs – Upper Colorado – San Juan River.
Stretching Existing Supplies Incentive to Change • Endangered Fish Recovery Programs – Upper Colorado – San Juan River Endangered Fishes of the Colorado River Basin Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius Razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus Humpback chub Gila cypha Bonytail Gila elegans Goal of the Recovery Programs Recover the endangered fish as water development proceeds in compliance with the Endangered Species Act and state water law. (San Juan Recovery Program adds “and Federal trust responsibilities”.) Recovery Program Participants • UC – FWS, NPS, WAPA, Reclamation – Colorado, Utah, Wyoming – Water user, hydropower, environmental interests • SJ – FWS, BIA, BLM, Reclamation – Colorado, New Mexico, Tribes – Water user, environmental interests Program Elements Managing Managing fish nonnative nonnative fish Providing instream flows Stocking endangered fish Restoring habitat Research and monitoring Water for Endangered Fish Coordinated Reservoir Operations enhance flows in the “15-Mile” Reach • - Peak flows -1997-2009: total 149,282 AF -Average: 24,880 AF -Base flow augmentation -2000-2009: total 594,000 AF Water for Endangered Fish Reoperation of Federal Reservoirs • Flaming Gorge Dam • Navajo Dam • Aspinall Unit ESA Compliance for Water Projects 1988 - 2009 Area Colorado Wyoming Utah New Mexico Regional Water Projects Annual Depletions (AF/Y) 1,225 164 211 19 238 1,857 2,338,985 116,926 602,430 653,109 0 3,711,450 Aspinall Reoperation Background • Aspinall Unit – Mainstem Unit of CRSP – Three Dams, Reservoirs and Power Plants – Blue Mesa – Morrow Point – Crystal • Upstream of Black Canyon National Park • Upstream of critical habitat for ESA Blue Mesa Dam Morrow Point Dam Crystal Dam Gunnison Basin Map Park Water Right • Black Canyon of the Gunnison – 2009 Decree quantified – 1 day peak flow and minimum flows – Subject to Secretarial discretion – Gives highest priority to flood control ESA Flows • EIS on Aspinall Unit - Describe impacts of modifying operations to assist in meeting flow recommendations • Purpose of EIS - To provide water to avoid jeopardy to fish while maintaining authorized purposes of the Unit Authorized Purposes Storing water for consumptive use; assisting compact development; irrigation; flood control; and hydropower Aspinall EIS • EIS will include Black Canyon reserved right in the No Action and Action alternatives • Preferred Alternative – Avoids jeopardy to endangered fish – Meets authorized purposes – Compatible with reserved right – Coordinates Park and fish peaks ESA and Park Peak Flows • NPS – 1 day peak flow in Canyon – Minimum flows • Fish flows – Peak flow in critical habitat – Duration flows of # of days – Minimum flows • Goal is to meet as many multiple needs with the same water Gunnison Basin Map Programmatic Biological Opinion • PBO will provide ESA coverage for depletions for all federal and private project water users • Provides coverage for – 600,000 af of existing depletions – 38,000 af of new depletions Grand Valley Water Management Project Water Management Plans Canal Lining Canal Lining Piping Measurement Devices Improvement Structures Telemetry Automation