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U.S. Fish and wildlife Service January 30, 1996 Page 7 near Archuleta gage, the flow was 250,000 acre-feet and in 1956 it was 290,000 acre-feet. The research should be directed to best utilize reservoir storage to augment other downstream tributary flows consistent with the available runoff to accomplish the goals of the program. Annual spring flows of 300,000 acre-feet are not the natural hydrograph and there is evidence such flows are not necessary to meet the goals of the Recovery Implementation Program. Similar comments apply to the discussion at pages 11 and 13. Because the inflow to Navajo Reservoir, as well as the downstream tributary inflows, are forecastable for each year, releases from Navajo Reservoir can be scheduled to maximize the available water supply to meet the goals of the program. Page 8, item F. The first word of the third sentence, "This", is indefinite and, as written, refers to the diversion of 41,700 acre-feet in Colorado, which is not what is intended. It is suggested that that "Stage A" be inserted in lieu. Item F also discusses the depletion due to Stage A and refers to "annual average depletions" being different from "net depletions", and lists depletions ranging from a low of 22,000 acre-feet to a high of 68,000 acre-feet for Stage A. The discussion also refers to Figure 22 stating that 57,100 acre-feet would be exceeded over 60% of the time. Please refer to our previous discussion of the determination of depletion. It is strongly recommended that depletion values used in the draft be consistent with depletion values as determined by water management agencies. Further, the last sentence on page 8 carries the same implication with respect to water available for future development as discussed above, that Navajo Dam must be operated to provide 300,000 acre-feet for endangered fish 96% of the time before Stage A can be operated to effect an average annual depletion of 57,100 acre-feet. Page 13. The last sentence states that reducing Navaj 0 Reservoir releases in dry years to adult maintenance levels would increase the number of years that spring peaks could be augmented. We submit that this scenario must be developed and considered in order to meet the goals of the Recovery Implementation Program.