In 1962, Federal authorization of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project initiated construction of all components of the Fry-Ark Project, including Ruedi Dam and Reservoir. Ruedi Reservoir is intended to provide benefits to western slope water users to compensate for additional trans-mountain diversions from the Roaring Fork headwaters. Since 1962, the term ‘water users’ has expanded to include specific fishery purposes and more generally, other non-consumptive uses such as off-site hydropower generation, river health and recreation. The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program was established in 1988, and in 2023 has three specific pools of water available for use in the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River (Palisade to the Gunnison River confluence), as well as lease water made available by Program partners that adds to the Recovery Program storage available in Ruedi. Come hear how the Ruedi Water and Power Authority and the Recovery Program collaborate on real-time flow management decision-making to sustain endangered fish in the heavily-dewatered 15 Mile Reach, and how those releases also sustain gold medal trout fishing and river health from Ruedi Dam to Glenwood and beyond.

Presented by
David Graf, In Stream Flow Coordinator for the Upper CO River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Program at U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
&
April Long, Executive Director at Ruedi Water & Power Authority