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Endangered Species Under the Endangered Species Act, four Colorado River native fish species are listed as endangered: Colorado pikeminnow; humpback chub, bony tail chub, and razorback sucker. Only the pikeminnow and razorback sucker are present in the San Juan River. Causes for the decline of these species include alteration of stream flows by water projects, introduction of non-native species and past efforts to remove the native fish from the system. In 1990, the U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service determined that depletions from the proposed Animas-La Plata Project could jeopardize the endan- gered fish in the San Juan River. The States of Colorado and New Mexico, water users, hydropower customers, and federal agencies developed a program to recover these species while allowing water use and development to continue. The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program for endangered fish is designed to achieve recovery by improving flow conditions by adding water to the river through re-regulation of the Navajo Reservoir when needed by the fish, improving and developing habitat, reducing non-native fish populations, and developing native fish stocking programs. In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a revised Biological Opinion for the Animas-La Plata Project that determined that a total of 57,100 acre- feet could be depleted from the San Juan Basin by the Animas-La Plata Project without jeopardizing the continued existence of the endangered fish. The Recovery Implementation Program should allow Colorado to fully develop its entitle- ment to water under the compacts. Source: Colorado Water Conservation Board Compact Facts Colorado River Compact of1922 Allocates 7.5 million acre-feet (mat) of consumptive use annually to (1) the Upper Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming above Lee Ferry, Arizona) and (2) the Lower Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico a~d Utah .below Lee Ferry, Arizona). This Compact requires the Upper Colorado Rive~ Basin to deliver an average of 75 maf to the Lower Basin during any consecutive 10-year period. Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana Treaty of 1944 between the United States and Mexico Guarantees delivery of 1.5 maf of Colorado River water per year to Mexico. If there is not adequate surplus water to satisfy the obligation, the Upper and Lower Basins are to equally share the burden of reducing uses to make up any deficiencies. Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of1948 Allocates the Upper Basin consumptive use of water as follows: Arizona 50,000 acre-feet/year Colorado 51.750/0 Utah 230/0 W~ming 14% New Mexico 11.250/0 Additionally, the State of Colorado may not deplete the flow in the Yampa River below an aggregate of 5 maf over any 10-year period. La Plata River Compact of 1922 Apportions the La Plata River between Colorado and N ew ~exico. Eac~ state has unrestricted use between December 1 and February 15. Outside that penod, each state can use the flow of the river at the state line if the flow is in excess of 100 cfs. If the flow is less than 100 cfs, Colorado must ensure delivery of an amount of flow equal to one-half the flow of the river at Hesperus, Colorado. Animas-La Plata Project Compact of 1968 Assures New Mexico priority to the use of water delivered by the Animas-La Plata Project. The right to store and divert water for use in New Mexico under this project shall be of equal priority to rights granted under Colorado Court Decree for uses in Colorado from the project. The Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 Settles the reserved water right claims of the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Tribes on all streams which cross the Reservations of the two tribes, with respect to quantity, priority and administration. Claims on the Animas and La Plata Rivers are depe~dent on construction of the Animas-La Plata Project. Colorado Court Decrees establish the rights of the Tribes within the priority system. The settlement established a Tribal Development Fund, and Colorado's cost share commitment to both the Development Fund and the Animas-La Plata Project has been paid or set aside as appropriate. (Dolores & San Juan River Basin Facts - 4)