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<br />.~_.,'" <br />~!f.,..:t~,.'~ _ <br /> <br /> <br />~,_:",.~,~='~,.r~..:,;~~~~:" <br /> <br /> <br />, o~:~~l~~;" <br /> <br />,-,--.'. <br /> <br />of 500 cis and do not exceed the channel capacity of the San Juan River. <br />. <br /> <br />C. Further depletior.s from the San Juan River in Colorado would be subject to <br />< <br /> <br />. individual Section 7 consultation. However, the SJRP would provide a means for <br /> <br />. <br />assuring successful consultation with the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Sefvice. <br />D. The water requirements of the endangered fish in the San Juan River are not <br /> <br />known at this time. Therefore, a five-year research project utilizing the operational <br /> <br />flexibility of Navajo Reservoir should be undertaken to define these flows, The <br /> <br />300,000 AF cited in the above example should be considered as the maximum <br /> <br />possible release, subject to refinement based upon study results. <br /> <br />The five.year research project should include several additional components. First, <br /> <br />studies should be conduct~ to define the flow requirements of the trout fishery <br /> <br />now existing below Navajo Reservoir. Based upon existing knowledge, a minimum <br /> <br />flow of 500 cfs is needed to maintain this quality fishery. Second, based upon <br /> <br />existing knowledge of the endangered fish habitat requirements, a feBSloility study <br /> <br /> <br />of non.flow habitat development alternatives for the San Juan River should be <br /> <br />initiated. Alternati~es considered should include, at a minimum, fish passage <br /> <br /> <br />f~cilities to allow migratio5fto currently inaccessible river reaches, backwater and <br /> <br />sidechannel development to enhance Young of the Year and juvenile habitat, and <br /> <br />jetty installation to create winter habitat for adults. CoroUary studies should <br /> <br />consider water q\4ality and temperature aspects of the San Juan River habitat and <br /> <br />potential enlw1cement measures if needed. Finally, optimization analysis should <br /> <br />be conducted to integrate endangered fish/trout requirements and habitat <br /> <br />3 <br />