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<br />, <br /> <br /> <br />/"/9j~o SL<... <br /> <br />.. . <br /> <br />< <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />tIPPER COLORADO REGIONAL OffiCE A f' PEN D IX E <br />P.O. BOX m6B <br />SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH 84141 <br /> <br />IN IIP1Y <br />una to: <br />UC-IOO <br /> <br />.. <br />.~ '. <br /> <br />SEP281990 <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />Memorandum <br /> <br />To: Regional Director, Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 6, <br />PO Box 25486, Denver CO 80225 . <br /> <br />? <br /> <br />From: Regional Director <br />Bureau of Reclamation <br /> <br />Subject: Review of the Draft Biological Opinion for the Animas-La Plata <br />Project (Biological Opinion) . <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has reviewed the subject draft <br />b1010gttal opinion for the Animas-La Plata project.. We have also.tnetwith <br />Colorado R1verendangered fish experts, reviewed the June I, 1990; San Juan <br />River Ichthyofaunal Survey, Biological Summa~, developed additional <br />hydrological analyses, and informally discussed the biological basis of the <br />opinion with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) since Reclamation <br />. received the draftbiological-op1nio~on~May4,-1990~e~purpose~of=these <br />actions was to determine if a reasonable and prudent alternative to offset the <br />likelihood of jeopardy is pOSSible for the Animas-La Plata project. Based on <br />the foregoing, Reclamation believes that a reasonable and prudent alternative <br />could be developed. <br /> <br />Hydrologic Analysis <br /> <br />Additional hydrologic information suggests there is a great deal of <br />flexibility in the operation of Navajo Dam. Also, it appears that more water <br />is available to the endangered fishes during the summer and fall months than <br />was available historically, and current spring releases are reduced over what <br />was historically available. Our new hydrologic analysis shows that by <br />reducing late fall and winter releases, water could be made available to <br />increase peaks in the spring, returning the river to a more -natural- <br />hydrograph. Based on the hydrologic modeling of the river, under full <br />depletion, Reclamation believes there is approximately 300,000 acre-feet (AF) <br />of water that could be available to recreate the peak spring flow if it is <br />determined to be necessary to the survival and recove~ of the endangered <br />fishes. Full depletions need to be clearly defined by listing projects and <br />their depletions, <br /> <br />Additional Biological Review <br /> <br />On June'13, 1990, and again on June 25-26, 1990, Reclamation met with a number <br />of State, Federal, and private field biologists who are knowledgeable <br /> <br />. <br />--.--... ----- ~-------- <br />