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<br />691 <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />Purpose and Need <br /> <br />This final environmental assessment (EA) is prepared in compliance with the National <br />Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (Public Law 91-190) to evaluate test flows from <br />Navajo Dam into the San Juan River. <br /> <br />The underlying need for this proposed test is to evaluate the effect of low summer flows on <br />various resources. The information obtained will be used in preparation of an environmental <br />impact statement (EIS) on operating Navajo Reservoir to mimic a natural hydrograph in critical <br />habitat of the San Juan River for the benefit of downstream endangered fish and to allow for <br />future water development. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />In October 1999, Reclamation published a Notice of Intent in the Federal Register announcing it <br />would prepare an EIS on the operation of Navajo Dam and Reservoir to implement flows <br />recommended by the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRBRIP) to <br />assist in the recovery of the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius) and <br />razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus). <br /> <br />Fully implementing the flow recommendations will result in Navajo Dam releases being <br />periodically reduced to 250 cubic feet per second (cfs) in any season. In some years, during <br />significant portions of the summer, releases would remain at 250 cfs. Reducing minimum <br />releases from Navajo Dam from the present 500 cfs minimum to 250 cfs would result in saving <br />water in Navajo Reservoir for large spring releases as described in the flow recommendations <br />and for making water available for current and future water development. Another reason for the <br />250 cfs minimum release is to attempt to keep the flow within the designated endangered fish <br />habitat downstream of Farmington between 500 and 1,000 cfs, in order to maximize nursery <br />habitat for fish. Reclamation proposes to implement the flow recommendations, or a reasonable <br />alternative to them, resulting from consultation under the Endangered Species Act. <br /> <br />Reclamation would implement the flow recommendations by modifying the operations decision <br />criteria of Navajo Dam to provide sufficient releases of water at times, quantities and durations <br />necessary to protect endangered fish and their designated critical habitat while maintaining the <br />authorized purposes of the Navajo Unit, Colorado River Storage Project. <br /> <br />2 <br />