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<br />701 <br /> <br />8. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />9. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />10. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />11. Comment: <br /> <br />Disapprove the test because of damage to the ecosystem, the economy, the <br />fishery, water users and hydropower. <br />Various individuals expressed disapproval of the test because of the <br />damage a 250 cfs release may cause. Reclamationfeels the test is of a <br />much shorter duration than would occur under the SJRBRIP flow <br />recommendations, so impacts will be of a short-term nature. Reclamation <br />will maintain the option of ending the test early if significant problems are <br />foreseen with water diversions, aquatic resources, or other resources. <br /> <br />Monitoring Activities <br /> <br />What efforts are being undertaken to encourage a factual test-if normal <br />water use patterns (diversions) are altered during the test, how can the test <br />be factual? <br />Every effort will be made to encourage afactual test. Reclamation <br />personnel, in conjunction with representatives from various agencies and <br />in conjunction with monitoring existing river gages, will be observing, <br />monitoring, and measuring the river, diversion structures and recreation <br />use from the dam to Bluff, Ur. Reclamation believes the test will actually <br />show how existing water use patterns must change in order to <br />accommodate 250 cfs low flow releases. <br /> <br />At a minimum, you should have several study sites established at fixed <br />locations where scientists are collecting data before/during/after the <br />. test-that is the only way that you will be able to collect quantitative <br />information. <br />Reclamation believes sufficient physical data exists, most of which was <br />collected during the 1996-97 winter low flow test, on the river from the <br />dam to Archuleta; therefore, most of our effort will be focused on <br />collecting much needed infonnation downstream of this point. <br />Reclamation is planning on locating several study sites downstream of <br />Archuleta, N.M. These study sites will be selected once the test has <br />commenced. At each site, several physical characteristics of the river will <br />be quantitatively measured and/or qualitatively assessed. It is hoped that <br />the sites located will extend to the confluence of the Animas River. Each <br />location assessed will be uniquely located so that the same set of <br />measurements can be collected after the test associated with a 500 cfs dam <br />release. <br /> <br />How will the information from the test be evaluated and documented? <br />What level of peer review will occur? Is the SJRBRIP the review entity? <br /> <br />12 <br />