WSP08809

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1996
• Title: Correspondence regarding the Final Biological Opinion - 1996
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Biological Opinion

~M~~~ES,BRADFORD&SHPS -

ID:303-247-SS27

FEB 16'96

9:09 No.003 P.03

Keith Rose and Patty Schrader
February IS, 1996
Page 2

exceed an annual maximum of 57,100 acre-feet in any year, as calculated at
the Bluff gage (located at Mexican Hat), until all the clements of this
reasonable and prudent alternative are completed and/or implemented. . . .
IIu"""..~., A reauirement hut only durinu the research pp.rind ht that if
Reclamation can provide a minimum winter flow out of Navajo Dam of
approximately 300 cfs on a rccwrlng basis such that the flexibility of operation
necessary to mimic a natural hydrograph can be maintained as demonstrated
by the model runs showing an availability of up to 300,000 acre-feet of water
for spring release for endangered fishes 96 percent of the time (as per the
1991 biological opinion), then and only then can Stage A be operated with
57,100 acre-feet as an average annual Anima~-T.lI PlaIa PrQject depletion.
TIJ~;;t;;;J a u''''i''':I\.IJlI,-,uLJ fu. Lt.... J~o:I'l;:lIl"'ll Y'-'J;vd. DevelopInent of preliminary
flow recommendations (provided hydrologic conditions allow) will occur in
1998 after the conclusion of the research. Navajo Dam operations would then
be based on these flows.

2. Reclamation has agreed to contribute funding to the San Juan River Basin
RecovCl}' Implementation Program, including funding for research necessary
to complete the objectives of the approximate 7 year research effort on the
San Juan River and its tributaries. The research is being conducted by
knowledgeable endangered species and habitat experts and is designed to
allow for testing of hypotheses. The ultimate goal of this research is to
characterize those factors which limit nlItiTc endanllered fish populations in
the San Juan River and to provide management options to conserve llnd
restore the endangered fish community. In order to complete the research
objectives, Reclamation agrees to provide all test flows rllQJlested bv the
. Riolo~ Committee and llPproved ily the Coordination Committee (tcst. flows
are based on hydrologic conditions for each water year). . . . After the
preliminary recommendations are developed, Reclamation will reinitiate
section 7 consultation to determine whether additional depletions are
vermi~~ihle for the AnimA~-T.3 Plaia Proiect.

3. Page 2 should be corrected to read:

3. Reclamation will continue to operate Navajo Dam under study guidelines
developed under clement 2 for the research period. Test flows will continue
to be provided to re-create a wide range of flow conditions including high
flows similar to 1987, when the hydrolol1Y allows which are hypothesized to
benefit reproduction and recruitment in the endangered fish community.
Release schedules will be determined by the Service and Reclamation based
on recommendations of the San Juan Recovery Implementati(1I1 Program's