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, , /. e 002185 e Dolores River Proposed Action - Implementation of th~ proposed action would provide managed releases from a pool of Project water in McPhee Reservoir to the Dolores River during nOD-spill periods. Flows in the river would fluctuate seasonally. There would be a slight decrease in the volume of water released in anticipation of spills from the volume d.ascribed in the DPR/FES and more water released from storage during what would have been "dJ)''' years under the DPRlFES release criteria. _The long tenn average annual total volume of water released to the river will be slightly greater than predicted in the DPR/FES. No Action - Operation of McPh~ Res~rvoir would return to the downstream release criteria directed by the DPRlFES. Due to the discrepance in the 1977 Project operation study discussed in the background section of this document there would be a slight decrease in the volume of water released in anticipation of spills from the volume described in the DPRlFES. The long tenn average annual total v01ume of water released to the river will be slightly greater than predicted in the DPRlFES. . G. INDIA!'" TRUST ASSETS Tne United States has a trust responsibiiity to protect and maintain rights reserved by or granted to American Indian tribes by treaties, statutes, and executive orci;;-rs. .lndian Trust Assets (ITA) are legai interests in-property held in trust by the United SIllIes fo~ Indian tribes or individuals. or property that the United States is otherwise charged by law to protect. Exa.mpies of resources that couid De IT As are ianUs. minerals. hunting and fishing rights, water rights. and U1Stn~am flows. Reciatnation's ITA Poiicy was sl!;ncd by the Comnllssione~ or. juiy 2. 1993. Tile policy states ilia: Recia.:nation wili carry Ollt its activities in /I manne~ which protects IT As and avoids adverse impacts when possible. ReclBInation has idemified two indian triDes as rx>temialiy affected by the proposed action and alternatives. the Ute Mountain ute Tribe and the Navajo Nation. :--<0 l"ative America.... reiigious concerns llave been luemiiied in connection with this proposal. At .t 1:.CTED ENVIROr-.:-MENT Ute Mountain Ute Tribe -Tne Ule Mountain Ute lribe has-an annual Proj~t reservc:ci wllter rigiu of 25,100 I\F resulting from the 1986 Colorado Ute Waler Rights Settlement Agreement. Tne water is aliocatc:ci as follows: 23,300 AF for irrigation of approximately 7,500 acres of tribal land south of Sleeping Ute Mountain, 1,000 AF for M&1 use in the Towaoc area. and 800 AF for fish and wildlife development. Project facilities to deliver the Project irrigation and M&1 water are complete. Both the San Juan River and McElmo Creek flow through the reservation. The tribe aiso has reserved water rights in the main stem of the San Juan River (10 cfs) and McEimo Creek (1 cfs), Na~'ajo Nation - Tue Navajo Nlltion is located south and west of the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation and the Dolores Project area.. The San Juan River flows through parts of the Navajo Nation and fonns the northern border of the Nation from near the confluence of Montezuma Creek to the confluence with the Colorado River. McEimo Creek and Montezuma Creek also flow through the Nation. The San Juan River, McElmo Creek. and Montezuma Creek receive irrigation return flows from the Dolores Project. E]\;VIRO~1\1E~l AL CONSEQlJENCES Ute !\Ioum.ain Ute Tribe Proposed Action - impiementRlion 0; tile propose.:: Il::ion wouid sijgilll~' decrellse the Project Willer suppiy for "lr, -'-