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<br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br />n <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />1 <br />f <br />Chapter 5 Direct Economic Impacts <br />A. Hydrology of the San Juan and Animas Rivers <br />Mean biweekly flows present a picture of the seasonal variability of flows on the San Juan and <br />Animas rivers (see Figures 5-A-1 and 5-A-2). The substantial seasonal fluctuations are driven by <br />the accumulation, and subsequent melting of snowfall in Colorado's southern Rocky Mountains. <br />The native fishes of these rivers have declined largely as a consequence of the economic <br />development of the region that has had the effect of altering the hydrology of the rivers (see <br />Maddux et al., 1993). <br />In the and Southwest, water is a critical factor for economic development. Water is used in the <br />household, factory, and field. Increments and decrements in water quantity and quality and <br />institutional rules governing its use can mean the difference between thriving economies with <br />associated robust ecosystems and stagnant economies with dewatered riparian areas. <br />The economy of the Four Corners region of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Arizona is <br />expected to grow as new immigrants are attracted by its climate, lack of crime, and abundance of <br />recreational activities. This new influx, along with growing agricultural demands for water, will <br />place increasing pressure on the water resources of the San Juan River. <br />The hydrological scenarios include a status quo WOFBA (the Baseline) and a future WF <br />scenario that allows for the recovery of the endangered fishes. The current water conditions were <br />determined by examining an historical set of flows for the years 1967 through 1985. The WF <br />scenario was constructed by first calculating the average historical flows then subtracting the <br />flows that USFWS considers necessary for fish recovery. After allowing for current depletion, <br />any remaining flows are available for future development." The details of this analysis are <br />available in Chapter II-6 of Brookshire et al., 1993 <br />" The current research being undertaken through the San Juan Recovery Implementation Program will <br />ultimately determine the flows needed. <br />32 <br />