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<br />( <br />l <br /> <br />t"'. . __ __ _ _ __ _ <br />0UIIIlIIi:lry <br /> <br />1 <br />J <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to operate Navajo Dam and Reservoir to <br />implement Endangered Species Act (ESA)-related flow recommendations on the San Juan <br />River, or a reasonable alternative' to those recommendations, in a manner which allows for <br />both current and certain future water depletions' to proceed. <br /> <br />This change in reservoir operation would assist in conserving endangered fish in the <br />San Juan River downstream from Farmington, New. Mexico, and in enabling water <br />development to proceed in the San Juan River Basin (Basin) in compliance with applicable <br />laws, compacts, court decrees, and American Indian (Indian) trust responsibilities. To <br />accomplish this action, Reclamation would continue to operate Navajo Dam to meet the <br />authorized project purposes while modifying reservoir release patterns to meet flow <br />recommendations designed to maintain or improve habitat for the razorback sucker and <br />Colorado pikeminnow (formerly Colorado squawfish). <br /> <br />The Navajo Reservoir Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) describes <br />and analyzes environmental effects resulting from the proposed operational changes to <br />Navajo Dam and Reservoir. The DEIS has been prepared according to provisions of the <br />National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) and other laws and mandates. <br /> <br />Scope of the Proposed Action <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />The effects of the proposed action would encompass Navajo Dam and Reservoir and the <br />surrounding area in southwest Colorado and northwest New Mexico and the San Juan River <br />downstream to Lake Powell near the Utah! Arizona border. Navajo Dam is approximately <br />38 miles northeast of Farmington, New Mexico, and about 77 miles southeast of Durango, <br />Colorado. Other communities in the area include Bloomfield and Shiprock, New Mexico <br />(the latter on the Navajo Nation Reservation), and Bluff and Mexican Hat, Utah. <br /> <br />1 A reasonable alternative may be determined through consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) <br />under Section 7 of the ESA. All Federal agencies are required to consult with the Service for Federal actions that <br />may affect threatened or endangered species or their designated critical habitat. <br />2 Those which have obtained appropriate environmental compliance but are not yet implemented. <br /> <br />00572 <br />