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<br />I) 0 ("- <br /> <br />) <br /> <br /> <br />- li1UREA,U OF ~ECL~tAP."t\O~ <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br />JUl 05 2001 <br /> <br />Western Colorado Area Office <br />Grand Junction, Colorado <br />Ed Warner (970) 248-0654 <br />For Release July 2,2001 <br /> <br />CoI0md0 Water ConsslVatlon Board <br /> <br />Reclamation to Lower Releases from Navajo Reservoir <br />into the San Juan River for 5 to 10 days <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation will reduce releases from Navajo Reservoir into the San Juan River <br />for a 5 to 1 0 day test beginning Monday, July 9 at 7 a.m. Releases from Navajo Reservoir, <br />located in northwestern New Mexico near the Colorado border, are currently at 500 cubic feet per <br />second (cfs). Releases will be gradually reduced and remain at 250 cfs for the duration of the <br />test. (A minimum test of 5 days is necessary to collect sufficient data to evaluate the 250 cfs low <br />flow and allow the river flow to adjust to the decrease in releases from the dam) <br /> <br />Reclamation will monitor conditions on the San Juan River from Navajo Dam to Shiprock, New <br />Mexico, before, during, and after the test. Once the test is over, releases from Navajo Reservoir <br />will be gradually increased until they are back at the 500 cfs level. <br /> <br />The purpose of the low-flow test is to evaluate the effect low summer flows have on various <br />resources. The information obtained will be used in an environmental impact statement (EIS) <br />Reclamation is preparing on the operations of Navajo Dam and Reservoir. The 250 cfs flows are <br />necessary to meet recommendations by the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation <br />Program to benefit downstream endangered fish while protecting existing and new water <br />development. <br /> <br />Coordination for the test included public meetings, news releases, and contacts with city, state, <br />and federal agencies, water users, recreationists, and Indian Tribes. Reclamation will notify the <br />public when the written report summarizing the test is available. <br /> <br />Reclamation will maintain the option of ending the test early if significant problems occur with <br />water diversions, aquatic resources, or other resources, or if public health or safety is being <br />compromised. <br /> <br />If you have questions or need more information, contact Ed Warner at 970-248-0654. (From July <br />9th through the duration of the test, Ed can be reached on his cell phone at <br />970-260-0576 or at Navajo Dam at 505-632-3115.) <br /> <br /># # # <br />