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<br />G91 <br /> <br />. Notification from the New Mexico State Engineer that 250 cfs releases were not <br />sufficient to protect senior water rights downstream. <br />. Notification from the New Mexico State Office of the Fish and Wildlife Service that <br />endangered species were being adversely affected to the degree that the test should be <br />terminated. <br />. Notification from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish that significant trout <br />losses were occurring within the downstream trout fishery or determination that water <br />quality criteria (oxygen, temperature, pH [see Comment No. 41]) were being exceeded. <br />. Notification from the New Mexico State Office of the Fish and Wildlife Service or the <br />New Mexico Department of Game and Fish that native fishes between Navajo Dam and <br />the confluence of the Animas River were being affected to the degree that the test should <br />be terminated. <br />. Notification from responsible governmental agencies that public health or safety was <br />being compromised by the test. <br />. U.S.G.S. gage data showing flows below 500 cfs downstream from Farmington. <br /> <br />Reclamation will notify the public when the written report summarizing the test is available. In <br />particular, resource specialists observing the test will summarize their monitoring activities in <br />conjunction with the impacts the low flows have on summer water temperature, water supplies <br />(diversion structures), fish habitat, and recreation. News Releases will announce the test and <br />Reclamation officials will be available to provide information to members ofthe media during <br />and after the test. <br /> <br />The No Action alternative to the proposed test would be to maintain normal reservoir releases at <br />500 cfs during the proposed test period. Under this alternative, Reclamation would continue <br />preparing the EIS on long-term operations and would rely on existing information and modeling <br />to evaluate low summer releases. <br /> <br />EXISTING ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />For purposes of impact analysis, the area of concern includes Navajo Reservoir and the San Juan <br />River and its flood plain downstream from the reservoir. Under some resource topics, for <br />example, economics and social factors, the area of impact includes a larger geographic area. <br /> <br />The immediate project area includes Navajo Reservoir in New Mexico and Colorado and the San <br />Juan River in Colorado (Four Comers Monument), New Mexico and Utah. The San Juan River <br />Basin encompasses approximately 25,000 square miles and the river extends 350 miles from its <br /> <br />5 <br />