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716 46. Comment: Response: 47. Comment: Response: 48. Comment: Response: 49. Comment: Response: instreamflow water right law. Lowering releases to 250 cfs at different times of the year will allow both endangeredfish recovery and water development to continue as well as protect existing water uses. Long-term operations will be evaluated in the upcoming Navajo operations EIS. The New Mexico State Game Commission is opposed to the test because of impacts to the trout fishery. It recommends that the test be terminated if certain water quality parameters are reached-pH should stay between 6.6 and 8.8, dissolved oxygen above 6.0 mgll, and temperature below 23 degrees Centigrade. It believes that if the test is conducted, Reclamation must be prepared to mitigate for all trout losses to minimize recreation and economic impacts. See response to Comment # 41 describing Reclamation's proposed fishery plan. Input from New Mexico Game and Fish Department will be used to help determine if test needs to be terminated. Reclamation and New Mexico Game and Fish Department will be monitoring the river daily in order to make these determinations. If monitoring indicates that suggested water quality thresholds are exceeded or if there are trout losses due to stranding or loss of habitat, New Mexico Game and Fish will recommend to Reclamation that the test be terminated. Reclamation will fully consider a recommendation to stop the test from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish based upon the supporting data and the degree of loss. New Mexico Game and Fish recommends that mitigation should be based on the number of dead trout observed, whether or not we know the loss to be "significant". A mitigation plan was suggested consisting of stocking at various size fish and at various ratios, depending on the size of fish stocked. See response to Comment#41 describing Reclamation's proposedfishery plan, which is part of the overall low flow test plan.. On one hand the tests will reveal potential serious impacts from permanent reoperation to 250 cfs summer releases, thereby providing important information; on the other hand we are gravely concerned about the test's adverse impacts to the river, particularly downstream from Citizen's Ditch. Reclamation understands the public's concern regarding adverse impacts to the river, especially downstream from Citizen's Ditch. Reclamation will conduct river, temperature, and water quality monitoring at certain locations along the river in order to identify adverse conditions before 24