<br />Farmington, The 250 cfs releases are estimated to be sufficient to meet water rights, but
<br />C diverting these rights may be more difficult,
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<br />
<br />CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION
<br />
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<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, DT,
<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 spect11lm 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,
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<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.
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