Flaming Gorge Technical Working Group

March 8, 2012, 3:30 p.m.

Meeting Record

Attending: 

Service (USFWS) –Kevin McAbee

UCRIP – Tom Chart, Jana Mohrman, Kevin Bestgen

Reclamation (BOR) – Heather Patno, Malcolm Wilson, Dave Speas, Beverley Heffernan

Western (WAPA) – Clayton Palmer, Jerry Wilhite

Argonne National Lab – Kirk LaGory

The next Working Group meeting is April 18 at 1:00 p.m. at the Western Park 

Convention Center in Vernal, Utah. 

Flaming Gorge forecasted unregulated inflows are 96% of the 30-year average and fall in 

the average (below-median) hydrologic classification. Yampa River Basin forecast flows 

are 79% of the 30-year average and fall on the drier side of the average (below-median) 

hydrologic classification. Cool and wet April weather will help the overall conditions in 

both basins. The current forecast is not promising for Yampa River days above 10,000 

cfs for at least one week. 

Reclamation then discussed the draft Proposed Flow and Temperature Objectives for 

2012. Because Reclamation has not received a formal research request from the 

Recovery Program, the current draft follows the ROD hydrologic targets similar to past 

years. The Recovery Program will request the Larval Trigger Study Plan experiment that 

has been developed and finalized through the Recovery Program process. The goal of 

this request is an experimental release from FG based on the presence of razorback 

sucker larvae in the system. The Recovery Program is expecting a final draft letter 

similar to historic years will be provided to Reclamation after the Management 

Committee meets on March 21, 2012. The Recovery Program is requesting that FG 

releases be limited to 8,600 cfs with no use of the spillway. There is currently limited 

distribution of the non-native burbot species in the Green River below FG, and avoiding 

spillway releases reduces perceived risk of entraining burbot downriver. In 2012, the

Recovery program will initiate a risk assessment of burbot entrainment, which will

include the impact of spillway releases. The Recovery Program is respectful and cautious 

of further introductions of non-native species in the system. 

The secondary request is the ongoing research of recruitment in the Stirrup floodplain. 

New results indicate that the 15,000 cfs request for flows at Jensen is minimally 

sufficient for entrainment into Stirrup floodplain. The research also suggests that a full 

floodplain prior to peak flows assists with fish movment. The Recovery Program is 

working with UDWR to pump water into Stirrup prior to the peak this year. Tom Chart 

will report on the status of water level at the Stirrup during the next FGTWG call. 

Reclamation asked the Service to provide a letter addressing flow thresholds and 

agreement that ESA compliance is met by altering the timing of releases to larval 
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presence in the Green River. Western agrees with implementing revised operations to 

meet the LTSP study parameters where hydrologically appropriate. Western supports the 

Service sending a letter that reoperation based on larval presence meets ESA compliance 

requirements this year. 

The Service reiterated that the FGTWG process includes ESA compliance and is the 

appropriate avenue for ESA compliance. However, the Service is willing to provide an 

official letter if appropriate. The Service is interested in providing a general letter of 

compliance rather than going through the process annually. 

Reclamation discussed the agreement with the Service last year where a compliance letter

is appropriate and would request a similar position this year. Reclamation needs a NEPA 

plan in place for a multi-year study. Reclamation is planning on approving 

experimentation this year with a categorical exclusion (CX). There will be supplemental 

NEPA in place for the multi-year experiment. 

The post-ROD regression(?) analysis was discussed in detail. Reclamation will revise the 

LTSP analysis to focus on days at various floodplain connection thresholds after wildproduced larvae were detected in the Green River. Reclamation will send the revised 

results with documentation before the MC meeting on March 21. 

The next FGTWG meeting is April 12 at 3:00 p.m.

Action Items:

Reclamation will provide a revised LTSP analysis and documentation before the MC 

meeting on March 21, 2012. 

Tom Chart will report on the status of water level at the Stirrup during the next FGTWG 

call. 

The Recovery Program will submit a final research request to Reclamation as soons as 

possible after the MC meeting on March 21, 2012.

Reclamation will update the draft Proposed Flow and Temperature Objectives for 2012

with the April final forecast and Recovery Program request.

FGTWG meets next April 12, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. Agenda, conference call and room will 

be sent out before the meeting.