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I " , .,,[ ) t:j ~ f'. '-. (~) o EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program (SJRRIP) was initiated in 1992 with the following two goals: 1. To conserve populations of Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker in the Basin consistent with the recovery goals established under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 2. To proceed with water development in the Basin in compliance with federal and state laws, interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and federal trust responsibilities to the Southern Utes, Ute Mountain Utes, Jicarillas, and the Navajos. The SJRRIP incorporated an ongoing 7-year research effort initiated by the Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau ofIndian Affairs in 1991. The SJRRIP encompasses the San Juan River from Navajo Dam to Lake Powell. A Long Range Plan (LRP) was completed in 1995 to guide the Program by detailing objectives, timelines, budgets, and milestones. This Summary Report was prepared to summarize the ongoing research efforts in relation to the objectives of the LRP. The following section summarizes the SJRRIP in relation to the seven major objectives of the LRP. 5.1 Develop Interim Management Objectives for the Endangered Fish Species and the Native Fish Community of the San Juan River. This objective will be addressed after the 7-year research effort is completed in 1997. Much of the research that is currently being conducted is aimed at providing information to address this objective. 5.2 Identify, Protect, and Restore Habitats within the San Juan River Basin Necessary for Recovery of the Endangered Fish Species and Management of the Native Fish Community. A number of studies are being conducted that address habitat in the San Juan River. Some are assessing physical habitat and how it varies throughout the system and under different flow levels. Other studies are documenting the habitat use and needs of endangered and other fish in the river. Flows from Navajo Dam have been partially manipulated since 1992 to mimic natural flows when possible and provide flows that are thought to be beneficial to recovery of endangered fish populations. Different flow patterns were produced to study responses by the fish community. Relationships between flow and habitat are fairly well established and models of these relationships are being developed. Considerable insight into habitat use by Colorado squawfish has been gained, as well as how much habitat is available for this species. Spawning areas have been verified. No wild razorback sucker have been found in the San Juan River since 1988, so fish that were produced from San Juan lineage were introduced into the river in 1994 for study purposes. Subreaches important to these fish have been identified. The studies have shown that the San Juan River has a limited number of lower San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program Summary Report ii 17 January 1997 PR-576-2