Ecological Monitoring and Evaluation of the McPhee Reservoir Managed Release, Lower Dolores River, 2017

High snowpack in the Dolores River basin allowed for a large managed release from McPhee Reservoir to the lower Dolores River in spring of 2017. Per guidance in the 2014 Lower Dolores River Implementation, Monitoring, and Evaluation Plan for Native Fish, partners including the Dolores Water Conservancy District, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Monitoring and Recommendations Team identified opportunities for the release to benefit native fish and associated river ecology. The M&R team evaluated multiple benchmarks associated with habitat objectives for target flow ranges. The Nature Conservancy, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Fort Lewis College, Colorado Mesa University, Bureau of Land Management, United State Forest Service, private landowners, and volunteers all conducted monitoring activities. Monitoring focused on 1) sensitive native fish, and 2) assessment of in-channel and riparian habitat. Select pre- and post-release data were collected on five newly established ecological monitoring sites and multiple other sites.