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<br />701 <br /> <br />Farmington. The 250 cfs releases are estimated to be sufficient to meet water rights, but <br />diverting these rights may be more difficult. <br /> <br />CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION <br /> <br />The draft and final EA's have been developed in cooperation with Indian Tribes, federal, state <br />and local governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, area businesses and water users. The <br />draft EA was released for review on March 28,2001. Following its release, Reclamation held <br />two public meetings regarding the proposed low-flow (250 cubic feet per second) test release <br />from Navajo Dam. <br /> <br />The first meeting was held on April 4 in Farmington, New Mexico, and approximately 50 people <br />attended. The representation included water user organizations, water users, commercial fishing <br />guides, recreationists, local businesses, and public agencies (e.g., City of Farmington, New <br />Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, San Juan Water Commission, and New Mexico <br />Department of Game and Fish). Major concerns and issues included water quality, loss of power <br />generation, difficulty diverting water, lack of water for water right holders; harm to the trout <br />fishery below the dam, and loss of revenue for area businesses. Overall, there is significant <br />public opposition to any long-term operations that would reduce releases below 500 cfs. <br />Opinions on the short-term tests were mixed; many people opposed to long-term low flow <br />releases supported the test as a means of showing the adverse effects of long-term 250 cfs <br />releases. <br /> <br />The second meeting was held on April 5 in Bluff, Utah, and 15 people representing the rafting <br />and local business community attended. Their primary concerns included sedimentation <br />problems in lower reaches of the San Juan River (San Juan arm of Lake Powell) and low water <br />problems in the river during the rafting season. Ideally, they would like to see 1,000 cfs in the <br />river at and below Bluff, UT. <br /> <br />Approximately 35 written comments were received on the draft EA. Most commentors have <br />strong opposition to releases from Navajo Reservoir falling below 500 cfs. Opponents represent <br />a broad spectrum of the area---recreationists, irrigators, business people, and the general public. <br />Some of the opponents supported the test itself-because the test would more clearly show the <br />impacts of releases lower than 500 cfs. The Fish and Wildlife Service commented that they do <br />not anticipate any negative impacts to threatened or endangered species, provided that the <br />duration of the test and the conditions outline in the EA for terminating the test are followed. <br />New Mexico Game and Fish Department opposed the test because of concerns for the trout <br />fishery. <br /> <br />This final EA has been provided to the individuals and groups listed at the end of this section. A <br />news release has also been mailed indicating the availability of the final assessment. <br /> <br />9 <br /> <br />I <br />-------.J <br />