Laserfiche WebLink
<br />L 705 <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />12. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />13. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />14. Comment: <br /> <br />Response: <br /> <br />The resource specialists gathering the various test data will submit in <br />writing their findings, analysis, and conclusions for review by peers within <br />Reclamation. Documentation will occur in written format and through <br />video footage and still pictures. The SJRBRIP is not a review entity. <br /> <br />The draft EA offers no detail on how Reclamation will monitor the river <br />during the test to ensure that significant impacts are detected in a timely <br />fashion - and the low flow test terminated should those impacts begin to <br />occur. <br />Please reference the Final EA. It provides a more detailed explanation of <br />how the river will be monitored to ensure that significant impacts are <br />detected in a timely fashion. Reclamation staff and New Mexico state <br />personnel will be on the river daily during the test to monitor effects. <br /> <br />Please provide an explanation justifying the proposed length of the low <br />flow test and why it is being conducted in July. <br />5 - 10 days was selected as the proposed length of the test in order to <br />allow as much flexibility in the monitoring process as possible. It also <br />provides a couple of days for the river to acquire equilibrium after the <br />releases are ramped down to 250 cfs. In addition, the resource specialists <br />monitoring the river need time to travel its length from the dam to Bluff, <br />Ur, observing and documenting any impacts. July was chose in order to <br />allow time for the river to stabilize after the spring peak; because Animas <br />River flows should still be high, thus maintaining neededflows <br />downstream from Farmington; and because July should also have high air <br />temperatures, so that impacts on water temperature can better be <br />determined. <br /> <br />One of the factors to terminate the test is a flow less than 500 cfs at the <br />Farmington, NM gauge. Historic flow data both at Farmington, NM and at <br />Bluff, UT should be provided to determine the difference in flows between <br />the two stations and within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. <br />Further, it would seem appropriate that flow measurements should be <br />made at Bluff, UT and compared to the flows at Farmington NM. A <br />threshold value should also be established at Bluffto accommodate <br />recreational use. <br />One of the categories of the flow recommendations is to meet a target base <br />flow (mean weekly non-spring runoffflow) of500 cfsfrom Farmington to <br />Lake Powell. This will be determined by monitoring USGS real time <br />stream flows at Ship rock, Four Corners and Bluff. The USGS maintains <br />these stations, so Reclamation will not need to take measurements of <br />stream flows in this area. <br /> <br />13 <br />