WSP11103

• File Number: 8240.300.10
• Description: San Juan Recovery Implementation Program
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Date: 2/1/1995
• Author: SJRIP
• Title: San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program - Program Document
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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with two species, the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker
being threatened with extinction. One other species, the
bony tail , appears to be extinct in the San Juan River.

1.3.3 Consultation History

The Colorado squawfish and the humpback chub were listed in 1967
as endangered. Since the passage of the Endangered Species Act
of 1973, two other species of Colorado River fishes have been
listed as endangered; bony tail (1980), and razorback sucker
(1991). As required under section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act all actions of federal agencies that may affect these listed
species must undergo consultation with the U.S. Fish and wildlife
Service. This is to insure that actions undertaken by a federal
agency are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of
listed species.

Since 1977, consultations have been conducted between the Service
and various federal agencies. The most significant of these
consultations have been between the Service and the Bureau of
Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Several
consultations in the late 1970's and early 1980's resulted in no-
jeopardy biological opinions. However, these consultations were
based on limited information, before recovery goals were defined
for the species, and prior to the recognition of the importance
of the San Juan River populations of Colorado squawfish and
razorback sucker to the overall survival of each species.

Two major projects since the early 1980's that have undergone
section 7 consultation with the Service are the Animas-La Plata
Project ("ALP") and Navajo Indian Irrigation Project ("NIIP").
During the section 7 process for ALP, the importance of the San
Juan River population of endangered fish species was re-
evaluated. The resulting "reasonable and prudent alternative"
for the project was based on the premise that current and
cumulative adverse conditions of the San Juan River jeopardized
the continued existence of the species. In spite of the existing
riverine conditions, however, a small reproducing population of
Colorado squawfish persisted and razorback sucker was documented
in the river.

The impacts discussed in the biological opinion for ALP focused
on water depletion. However, other impacts associated with water
development such as water quality degradation, contaminants from
irrigation return flows, increased sediment, and temperature
changes were also discussed. The same impacts were discussed and
addressed in the Biological Opinion for NIIP.

It was recognized that while these impacts may be exacerbated by
continued development of the waters of the San Juan River, a
program or plan is needed whereby all entities that have a