WSP11888

• File Number: 8240.300.31.I
• Description: San Juan River -- PBO - Section 7 Consultation
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/28/1999
• Title: DRAFT - San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program committee on Section 7 Procedures - Issues Statement on use of Hydrologic Modeling
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

01/28/99 THU 09:49 FAX 1 50541j76188

STATE ENGINEER OFFICE

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.~ Farmington, and for making recommendations on Navajo Dam operating
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~, rules which would permit the primary flow recommendations to be

met" In addition, the State of Colorado has a river decision-

support system (CROSS) model for the San Juan River Basin which it

uses for administering water rights and developing water plans.

During the development of the Riverware model for the Basin,

the Bureaus of Reclamation and Indian Affairs consulted with

representatives of the water development interests and the states

of Colorado and New Mexico. While agreements were reached as to

some data and assumptions used in the modeling, there also were

disagreements as to other data and assumptions in the model. Where

consensus was not reached, the Bureau of Reclamation or the Bureau

of Indian Affairs made decisions as to what to put into the model.

The states have concerns about some of the Riverware model

data and assumptions which they feel should be considered before

the federal agencies use the model in Section 7 consultations to

evaluate impacts of projects on San Juan River flows through

critical habitat. More concerns may become evident to the states

or other Implementation Program participants once the Bureaus of

Reclamation and Indian Affairs draft model documentation for

review. While it is recognized that the model may be modified and

improved over time, there remains concerns as to how the mode~ will

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