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Executive Summary FEIS - Navajo Reservoir Operations Purpose and Need The purpose of modifying the operations of Navajo Dam and Reservoir is, in concert with other authorized recovery actions, to provide sufficient releases of water at times, quantities, and durations believed to be necessary to conserve the two endangered fish species and their designated critical habitat as recommended in the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRBRIP)' Flow Recommendations for the San Juan River (Flow Recommendations)', and subject to consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) through the formal ESA process. Reclamation would maintain the authorized purposes of the Navajo Unit (Navajo Dam and Reservoir), which include enabling future water development to proceed in the Basin in compliance with applicable laws, compacts, decrees, and Indian trust responsibilities. The need for a plan to modify operations has resulted from previous ESA consultations with the Service on other Basin projects that affect flows in the San Juan River. Reclamation is required to comply with the ESA for discretionary actions that affect listed species; this could include operation of the facilities of the Colorado River Storage Project, which include Navajo Dam. The operation of Navajo Dam is a key element of the SJRBRIP. The Navajo Unit After completion of the Navajo Unit in 1962, criteria governing releases of water from the dam focused primarily on meeting irrigation needs and providing flood control. However, natives fish populations and their habitat have been adversely affected or modified in part by the construction and subsequent operation of Navajo Dam. Also, Lake Powell's inundation of approximately 30 miles of the lower San Juan River has had a significant impact on native fish habitat, as well. Some of the other factors adversely affecting these native fish include the introduction of non-native 6 fish, the past removal of native fish to create a more desirable recreational fishery, construction of diversion structures, and 'The SJRBRIP is a major cooperative effort among entities interested in the goals of endangered fish recovery and in proceeding with water development in the Basin. In addition to Reclamation, participants include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes, Navajo and Jicarilla Apache Nations, water development interests, and the States of Colorado and New Mexico. The SJRBRIP consists of three committees dealing with coordination, biology, and hydrology. 'Holden, P.B., U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1999. 'Fish that are indigenous to the Colorado River Basin, of which the San Juan River Basin is a component. ' Fish that evolved outside of the Colorado River Basin but that were purposely or accidentally introduced to this Basin.