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Executive Summary <br />FEIS - Navajo Reservoir Operations <br />instream channel modifications. Operating the dam under its historic operating criteria <br />would continue the adverse flow effects. However, over the last decade, the criteria and <br />associated pattern for releasing water from the dam were modified to accommodate <br />endangered fish research and recovery efforts in the San Juan River due to ESA <br />consultations.' <br />After requesting consultation under the ESA on the operation of Navajo Dam, Reclamation <br />committed to operate the dam in concert with ongoing research to determine hydrologic <br />conditions beneficial to endangered fish and to operate the dam in a manner most consistent <br />with endangered fish recovery for the life of the dam.' The Service concurred with <br />Reclamation's request that the consultation process be initiated and the overall consultation <br />period for the operation of the dam be extended while 7 years of planned research on the <br />needs of the two listed endangered fishes in the San Juan River were conducted' <br />San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program <br />The SJRBRIP was initiated in 1992 with two goals: <br />? To conserve populations of Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker <br />(figure S-2) in the Basin, consistent with the recovery goals established under <br />the ESA. <br />? To proceed with water development in the Basin in compliance with Federal and <br />State laws, interstate compacts, court decrees, and Federal trust responsibilities to <br />the Southern Ute Indian and Ute Mountain Ute Tribes and the Jicarilla Apache and <br />Navajo Nations. <br />The SJRBRIP has identified factors limiting the recovery of endangered fish and is <br />implementing actions to meet the physical and biological needs of the two endangered <br />fish species. Ongoing and proposed activities recommended by the SJRBRIP include <br />re-regulation of releases from Navajo Dam to better meet species needs through designated <br />critical habitat, control of non-native fish, augmentation of endangered fish populations, <br />and identification and removal of fish-passage barriers. <br />'Consultation under the ESA is required of Federal agencies for existing and new projects and programs to <br />determine effects on endangered species. <br />'Memorandum to the Service, July 30, 1991. <br />'Memorandum to Reclamation, August 19,1991.