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5. Comment: Response: 6. Comment: Response: 7. Comment: Response: 703 appropriate. This determination is not made until the final EA is completed. Reclamation believes that long-term operation changes involving a 250 cfs release will have significant impacts; however, low releases for a short-term test are not predicted to be significant. What is the No Action alternative-is it realistic? The No Action alternative in this case is simply not to conduct the low flow test. If this alternative is selected, minimum releases will be 500 cfs rather than 250 cfs during this test period. The EIS on Navajo Reservoir operations would be completed without benefit of observing directly the impacts of 250 cfs summer releases in the field. It is a realistic alternative. Editorial comments were suggested to better reflect actual language from the endangered fish flow recommendation report. An editorial comment suggested include replacing "implementing flow recommendations" with "operating Navajo Dam to meetflow recommendations". The use of the word "implement" is consistent with the Proposed Federal Actionfor the Navajo Reservoir Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement as stated in the Federal Register notice dated October 1, 1999. As such, Reclamation will continue to use the word implement as part of the Federal Actionfor this EAandfor the Draft EIS. A related editorial comment suggested changing the following sentence (found at the end of the first paragraph on page 3 of the draft EA) from "It is the position of the SJBRIP that these flow recommendations are necessary to protect and improve habitat of endangered fish in the San Juan River" to "It is believed by the SJBRIP that the flow recommendations will protect and improve habitat needed to recover endangered fish populations in the San Juan River." The final EA will reflect this change. The City of Farmington opposes any operation which would result in releases below 500 cfs, but does not oppose a 5 - 10 day test which will demonstrate the many harmful effects of a 250 cfs release. The City believes that the low flow release test of 250 cfs will demonstrate the many harmful effects of low flow releases. The City plans to actively participate in the test, with their engineer being the point of contact. The City also plans to do cross section elevations of the river, water quality testing, and take video footage. The City will also operate their power plant during the test, to better determine if the low releases will damage their power facilities. 11