2. Duchesne Price Jensen Green River

3. August 14, 2012 August 13, 2002 Drought Conditions in August

5. May forecast

6. Key Components of Spring Flow Recommendations: Importance of 18,600 cfs in Reach 2 in avg or wetter years = significant floodplain connection in the ONWR FGD releases should be timed to match peak, or immediate post-peak of the Yampa River FGD releases should be timed to coincide with presence of sucker larvae (many other timing factors)

7. LTSP: Study Matrix and Timeline Peak Flow (x) as Measured at Jensen, Utah Proposed Study Wetlands (a, b) Number of Days (x) Flow to Be Exceeded and Corresponding Hydrologic Conditions (c) 1 < x < 77 < x < 14x >14 8,300 < x < 14,000 cfs Stewart Lake (f), Above Brennan (f), Old Charley Wash (s) DryModerately dry Moderately dry and average (below median) 14,000 < x < 18,600 cfs Same as previous plus Thunder Ranch (f), Bonanza Bridge (f), Johnson Bottom (s), Stirrup (s), Leota 7 (s) Average (below median) 18,600 < x < 20,300 cfs Same as previous Average (above median) 20,300 < x < 26,400 cfs Same as previous plus Baeser Bend (s), Wyasket (s), additional Leota units (7a and 4), Sheppard Bottom (s) Moderately wet x > 26,400 cfs Same as previousWet (a) f = flow-through wetland, s = single-breach wetland (b) Up to eight wetlands would be sampled in a given year with the three in the lowest flow category being sampled in all years. (c) Refer to Table 1 for exceedance percentages and peak flow recommendations for each hydrologic condition. Note that the hydrologic conditions presented are the driest that could support a particular combination of peak flow magnitude and duration. For any combination, wetter hydrology could also support an experiment. 3 years

8. Green River Spring Flows: 2011 Larval RBS detected on June 23 (20) Days of Significant Floodplain Connection after RBS larvae detected

10. WY CO UT Colorado Gunnison White Yampa Green San Juan Flaming Gorge Powell Blue Mesa AZNM Duchesne Price Upper Colorado River Basin Critical habitat Desolation Canyon White River Colorado River Fish kills 2012

11. RECOVERY PROGRAM’S POSITION ON THE ROLE OF THE PRICE RIVER IN RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED FISH AND THE NEED FOR FLOW MANAGMENT July – September Flow Conditions in the Lower Price River Presumed to Support Colorado Pikeminnow Use July – September (1959, 1964, 1966, 1971, 2005) Average Daily Flow Exceedance Flow @ Woodside, UT (cfs) 10%111 25%61 50%37 75%22 90%15 RECOMMENDATIONS Work with Utah Water Users, the State of Utah, and local groups (eg. Price River Enhancement Committee) to maintain or improve summer base flow conditions that support current levels of Colorado pikeminnow seasonal use of the lower Price River. Secure an emergency pool of water. For instance, an emergency pool of 600 ac-ft would provide 5 cfs for 60 days. This will assist in delivering water for native fish to avoid periods of dewatering. At this time the Program won’t be funding research in the Price River. Since information is relatively sparse, the Program will reconsider our base flow recommendation as well as the need for further investigations if additional information warrants it (e.g., results of UDWR / Reclamation PIT reader deployment or results from Three Species sampling CONCLUSIONS There is seasonal use by Colorado pikeminnow between April and October. In 4 years of studies there was no documentation of over-winter use. It may be similar to their seasonal use of the Duchesne River, another tributary that has been greatly affected by water development

13. The End