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<br />e <br /> <br />0015~8 <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />Draft <br />//9/04 <br /> <br />Response to Comments Regarding Re-operation of Navajo Reservoir, Depletion Impacts on <br />the San Juan River with Respect to Endangered Species Recovery and Protection, and <br />Endangered Species Act Compliance for Long Hollow Reservoir <br />In Accordance with Agreements Reached with Respect to the San Juan River Basin Recovery <br />Implementation Program <br /> <br />The Navajo Nation Department of Justice, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, and <br />Jicarilla Apache Nation, have submitted comments with respect to: <br /> <br />1. Utilization of Navajo Reservoir to offset existing and future depletion impacts of Long Hollow <br />Reservoir on endangered species. <br /> <br />2. 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 />3. Distribution of benefits ofESA compliance for future depletions with respect to participation <br />in the Recovery Program and seniority in the water rights system. <br /> <br />4. Impact of future depletions on operations of Navajo Reservoir and Navajo Reservoir's ability <br />to meet flow recommendations for endangered fish in light of future depletions in the San Juan <br />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 /> <br />B. The proposed project could have an adverse effect on endangered fishes in the <br />San Juan River in the critical habitat reach by decreasing river flows below the <br />flow recommendations. <br />