News Release Archive

Flows from Flaming Gorge Dam to Increase Temporarily to Assist in Recovery of Endangered Fish

Media Contact: Lisa Iams, 801-524-3673, liams@usbr.gov
Heather Patno, 801-527-3883, hpatno@usbr.gov

For Release: May 20, 2010

Flows from Flaming Gorge Dam will significantly increase next week for a ten-day period to assist in recovery of endangered fish. Beginning on May 24, 2010, Reclamation will incrementally increase releases from an average of 810 cubic-feet-second (cfs) to a maximum powerplant capacity of approximately 4,300 cfs by May 26, 2010, and maintain releases at that level for a full ten-day period. Releases will begin decreasing to base flow levels at a rate of 350 cfs per day beginning on June 5, 2010.

Each year Reclamation times the increased flows from Flaming Gorge Dam into the Green River to match the spring runoff peak of the Yampa River. This is done to fulfill the requirements identified in the 2006 Record of Decision for the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam Environmental Impact Statement to aid in the recovery of four endangered fish and their critical habitat, downstream of the dam. These requirements were developed under the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program established to recover endangered fish species including the Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker, and the bonytail, while enabling water development to continue.

Current projections are for the Yampa River to peak at about 11,500 cfs during the last week of May or first week of June, which will likely be the largest peak to occur this season. The projected peak at Jensen, Utah, resulting from the combined flows of the Yampa River and Flaming Gorge may increase above 14,000 cfs. Green River flow levels of 15,000 cfs for five days, measured at Jensen, Utah, have been requested by Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program scientists. The current projected flows from the Yampa River combined with maximum powerplant capacity from Flaming Gorge will potentially meet the Recovery Program requested flows for one or two days. Weather patterns during May 2009 remained varied between temperature spikes followed by cool and wet conditions that created Yampa flows between 10,000 to 15,500 cfs. Conditions this year created a Yampa River flow of 10,000 cfs the last week in April followed by an extended period of cool temperatures and continued snow accumulation. Yampa flows during May this year have remained between 3,000 to 5,500 cfs.

There are critical spawning beds for the endangered fishes in the Green River downstream of the confluence of the Green River and the Yampa River. The timing of the flows was designed to coincide with spawning and hatching of the endangered fish. By timing the high powerplant releases to match the runoff peak of the Yampa River, recovery of the endangered fish will be assisted in two ways: First, the combined high flows of the two rivers will ensure that sediment which washes downstream will not be re-deposited on the spawning beds and secondly, the high flows will carry larval razorback suckers into flooded lowlands which are historic critical nursery habitat for the fish.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) has been consulted concerning potential impacts of the releases to the rainbow trout fishery below the dam. While the flows during this period will temporarily make fishing the river more challenging, UDWR does not expect any adverse impacts to the fishery.

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