7901

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7901
• Author: Upper Colorado River Commission.
• Title: Forty-Seventh Annual Report of the Upper Colorado River Commission.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Copyright Material: NO

Reclamation received an award in 1989 from the group "Physically-Chal-
lenged Access to the Woods" for its efforts in accessibility. In addition, in
January of 1991 Reclamation received recognition from the Great Outdoors
Colorado Citizens Committee for Ridgway State Park for "exemplifying
creativity and cooperation in the enhancement of Colorado's outdoor
resources. "

2. Colorado and New Mexico

a. Animas-La Plata Project

In 1979, the Service issued a non-jeopardy opinion on the project.
However, between 1986 and 1989, additional data were collectEld concern-
ing the Colorado squawfish in the San Juan River in New Mexico. That data
reaffirmed the existence of a small population of the fish.

As a result, in February of 1990, Reclamation requested re-initiation of
consultation under the ESA. In May of 1990, the Service rendered a Draft
Biological Opinion which contained a jeopardy opinion with no reasonable and
prudent alternatives.

Following exhaustive consultation between Reclamation and the Service,
a revised Draft Biological Opinion was issued on March 21, 1991 which
allowed for construction of the Ridges Basin Dam, Durango Pumping Plant
and inlet pipeline. A Final Opinion was issued on October 25, 1991 by the
Service following the October 24, 1991 signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) by the States of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah; the
Secretary of the Interior; the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute Indian
Tribes; and the Jicarilla Apache Tribe. The MOU provides for a Recovery
Implementation Program for the endangered fish and makes possible the
initiation of construction of the project. The MOU also provides for the
protection of the San Juan River flows through the occupied habitat stretch
of the river.

The Biological Opinion contains five elements:

1. An initial depletion of 57,100 acre-feet per year is anticipated. This
depletion will allow construction of Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir, Durango
Pumping Plant and inlet pipeline.

2. Seven years of research on the San Juan River and its tributaries to
collect critical information about the endangered fish and their habitats are
being funded by Reclamation until the Recovery Implementation Plan is in
place. Further Section 7 consultation will be required before beginning con-
struction of any project facilities that would require the depletion of more
than 57,100 acre-feet.

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