Instream Flow Studies, Reports, and Recommendations

Mainstem Upper Colorado River

Sundeen, K., C. Bradford, M. Pastore, D. Ensign. 2008. DRAFT 10825 Water Supply Alternatives Summary, Phase II Assessment A Project of the East Slope and West Slope Water Users in Support of the Upper Colorado River Endanterer Fish Recovery Program.

Pitlick, J. 2007.Channel Monitoring Evaluate Geomorphic Change on the Main Stem of the Colorado River. Final Report, Recovery Program Project Number 85A.

2006. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program Coordinated Reservoir Implementation Plan

LaGory, K.E., J.W. Hayse, and D. Tomasko. 2003. Recommended Priorities for Geomorphology Research in Endangered Fish Habitats of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Environmental Assessment Division, Argonne National Laboratory.

Anderson, R. and G. Stewart. 2003.Riverine Fish Flow Investigations
Federal Aid Project F-289-R6.

2003. Phase 2 Coordinated Facilities Water Availability Study For The Endangered Fishes of The Upper Colorado River Final Report, September 2003.

Kaeding, L. R. and D. B. Osmundson. 1989. Biologically Defensible Flow Recommendations for the Maintenance and Enhancement of Colorado Squawfish Habitat in the ’15-Mile’ Reach of the Upper Colorado River During July, August and September. Grand Junction, Colorado, Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado River Fishery Project: 169.

Osmundson, D. B. 2001. Flow regimes for restoration and maintenance of sufficient habitat to recover endangered razorback sucker and Colorado pikeminnow in the upper Colorado River: interim recommendations for the Palisade-to-Rifle reach. Final Report. U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Junction, Colorado.

Osmundson, D. B., P. Nelson, et al. 1995. Relationships Between Flow and Rare fish Habitat in the ’15-Mile Reach’ of the Upper Colorado River. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: 81.

Duchesne River

Green River

Bestgen, K. R., T. E. Chart, D. M. Anderson, and M. T. Jones. 2020.  Evaluate effects of summer flow management on survival of age-0 Colorado pikeminnow in the middle Green River, Utah.  Final report to the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Denver, Colorado.  Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.  Larval Fish Laboratory Contribution 216.

Trammell, M., D. Perkins, M. Wondzell, J. Rebenack. 2020. Study and Monitoring Plan to evaluate the potential effects of experimental endangered fish flow releases from Flaming Gorge Dam on downstream resources. Plan for Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program; Project 177.

Lagory, K.E., K.R. Bestgen, H. Patno, J. Wilhite, D. Speas, M. Trammell. 2019. Evaluation and Suggested Revisions of Flow and Temperature Recommendations For Endangered  Fish In The Green River Downstream Of Flaming Gorge Dam. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.

Bestgen, K. R. 2018. Evaluate effects of flow spikes to disrupt reproduction of smallmouth bass in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam.Final report to the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Denver, Colorado. Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. Larval Fish Laboratory Contribution 214.

Grippo, M., K.E. LaGory, D. Waterman, J.W. Hayse, L.J. Walston, C.C. Weber, A.K. Magnusson, and X.H. Jiang. 2017. Relationships between Flow and the Physical Characteristics of Colorado Pikeminnow Backwater Nursery Habitats in the Middle Green River, Utah. Argonne National Laborary Report, 29 p.

Lagory, K.E., L.J. Walston, A. Orr, and C.C. Weber. 2017. 2016 Reassessment of Floodplain Wetland Connections in the Middle Green River, Utah. Argonne National Laboratory Report, 29 p.

Bestgen, K.R. and A.A. Hill. 2016. Reproduction, abundance, and recruitment dynamics of young Colorado pikeminnow in the Green and Yampa Rivers, Utah and Colorado, 1979-2012. Final Report for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, Project FR BW-Synth.

Larval Trigger Study Plan Ad Hoc Committee. 2012. Study Plan to Examine the Effects of Using Larval Razorback Sucker Occurrence in the Green River as a Trigger for Flaming Gorge Dam Peak Releases. March, 2012.

Green River Study Plan ad hoc Committee. 2007. Study Plan for the Implementation and Evaluation of Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam. Coordinated by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.

Bestgen, K.R., K.A. Zelasko, R.I. Compton, and T. Chart. 2006. Response of the Green River Fish Community to Changes in Flow and Temperature Regimes from Flaming Gorge Dam since 1996 based on sampling conducted from 2002 to 2004 Final Report 115, Larval Fish Laboratory Contribution 144.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2005. Final Biological Opinion on the Operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. September 6, 2005. Salt Lake City, Utah.

Kitcheyan, D.C., and G.B. Haines. 2004. Evaluation of the Effects of Stage Fluctuations on Overwinter Survival & Movement of Young Colorado Pikeminnow in the Green River River, Utah, 1999-2002 Upper Colorado River Basin Recovery Implementation Program, Project No. 104.

Muth, R. T., et al. 2000. Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Forge Dam. Project FG-53, Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.

Gunnison River 

Price River 

White River

Yampa River 

Mohrman, J. and D. Anderson. 2017. Procedures for Releasing and Administering Water from Elkhead Reservoir to Augment Yampa River Flows for Endangered Fish. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver, Colorado. 16 pp.

Ruddy, B.C. 2010. Streamflow gain-loss characteristics of Elkhead Creek downstream from Elkhead Reservoir near Craig, Colorado, 2009. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2010–5198, 14 p.

Memorandum from Robert Muth, Program Director of the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program to Erin Light, Division Engineer, Water Division 6, Steamboat Springs, Co regarding base flow augmentation from Elkhead Reservoir to the Yampa River at Maybell, April 3, 2008.

Roehm, G.W. 2004. A Management Plan for Endangered Fishes in the Yampa River Basin and Environmental Assessment. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region (6). Denver.

Anderson, R. and G. Stewart. 2003.Riverine Fish Flow Investigations

Federal Aid Project F-289-R6

Modde, T., W. J. Miller, and R. Anderson. 1999. Determination of habitat availability, habitat use, and flow needs of endangered fishes in the Yampa River between August and October. Final Report to Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. Denver.

Modde, T. and G. Smith. 1995. Flow Recommendations for Endangered Fishes in the Yampa River. Denver, CO, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 45.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Streamflow Needs of Rare and Endangered Fishes: Yampa River Interim Flow Recommendations – Final Report, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 13+.

Tyus, H. M. and C. A. Karp. 1988. Stream Flow Needs of Rare and Endangered Fishes, Yampa River, Colorado. Vernal, Utah, Fish and Wildlife Service Colorado River Fishes Project: 54.