News Release Archive

Reclamation Signs Record of Decision Completing Flaming Gorge Dam Final EIS Process

Media Contact: Doug Hendrix, 801-524-3837, dhendrix@uc.usbr.gov
Barry Wirth, 801-524-3774, bwirth@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: February 16, 2006

Reclamation's Upper Colorado Regional Director Rick Gold announced today that he has signed a Record of Decision (ROD) approving the implementation of the Action Alternative analyzed in the Final Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Published in November 2005, the final EIS analyzed flow recommendations and strategies that are intended to assist in the recovery of populations and protect designated critical habitat of four endangered fish species in the Green and Colorado River Basins, while maintaining all authorized purposes of the Flaming Gorge Dam  particularly those related to the development of water resources in accordance with the Colorado River Compact. Today's signing of the ROD document culminates more than 10 years of work by Reclamation and eight cooperating federal and state agencies. On November 15, 2005, Reclamation filed the Operation of the Flaming Gorge Dam Final EIS with the Environmental Protection Agency and made the document available to the public. The final ROD addresses an assortment of issues and concerns that were raised by the public and the cooperating agencies in their review of the final EIS.

Along with Reclamation, cooperating agencies to the EIS process included Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Western Area Power Administration (Western); the USDA Forest Service; the State of Utah; and, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS).

In September 2000, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) published the final report, Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam. These recommendations called for a long-term pattern of releases from Flaming Gorge Dam that approximate a natural pattern of river flow and water temperature. These recommendations formed the basis of the Action Alternative that will be implemented in accordance with the Record of Decision. The decision is based on the EIS analyses that indicate that there are no significant adverse effects expected in implementing the flow and temperature recommendations, and that those undesirable impacts that might occur can be moderated or eliminated through the adaptive management process.

In addition to today's action, Reclamation announced that the next Flaming Gorge Working Group meeting is scheduled for Thursday April 13, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. in Vernal, Utah. The location of this meeting will be at the Western Park Convention Center located at 302 East 200 South in Vernal. The Flaming Gorge Working Group is a forum for information exchange between Reclamation, stake holders and the public about the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. Spring 2006 operations of Flaming Gorge Dam, including operations implemented by the aforementioned Record of Decision, will be discussed in detail at the April 13th meeting. Interested public are encouraged to attend.

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