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<br />001598 <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Draft <br />2//7/04 <br /> <br />DRAFT <br />Long Hollow Reservoir Project <br />404 Permit Biological Assessment <br /> <br />The State of Colorado offers the following response to comments regarding re-operation of <br />Navajo Reservoir, the impacts of Project depletions on the San Juan River with respect to <br />Endangered Species Recovery and Protection, and Endangered Species Act Compliance for <br />Long Hollow Reservoir. These comments are made in accordance with the agreements <br />reached for the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program <br /> <br />The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Navajo Nation Department of Justice, and <br />Jicarilla Apache Nation, have submitted comments that misrepresent the San Juan Recovery <br />Implementation Program. Colorado is appalled these entities, which participate in the prograrn <br />along with Colorado, would make such outlandish statements with respect to: <br /> <br />1. The role of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program in providing ESA <br />compliance for existing and future depletions in the San Juan basin. <br /> <br />2. The distribution of benefits of ESA compliance for future depletions with respect to <br />participation in the Recovery Program and seniority in the water rights system. <br /> <br />3. The utilization of Navajo Reservoir to offset existing and future depletion impacts of Long <br />Hollow Reservoir on endangered species. <br /> <br />4. The impact of future depletions on operations of Navajo Reservoir and Navajo Reservoir's <br />ability to meet flow recommendations for endangered fish in light of future depletions in the San <br />Juan River basin, including <br /> <br />A. Potentially negative impacts to the tribes to the extent that the proposed Long <br />Hollow Reservoir would lower San Juan River flows below the flows specified in <br />the flow recommendations making it necessary for Reclamation to release more <br />water than it otherwise would in Navajo Reservoir to compensate for the increase <br />in flow in the critical habitat reach. <br />