San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program Summary Report 1991-97

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INTRODUCTION The San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program (Program) was initiated in 1992 with the following two goals: 1. To conserve populations of Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker in the Basin consistent with the recovery goals established under the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq. 2. To proceed with water development in the Basin in compliance with federal and state laws, interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and federal trust responsibilities to the Southern Utes, Ute Mountain Utes, Jicarillas, and the Navajos. The Program's "Program Document" identifies actions and objectives needed to attain these goals and to implement fish population recovery within 15 years. Many of the actions identified in the document involve research on the endangered fishes and their habitats. Recent research on the San Juan River System includes a 3 -year effort initiated in 1987 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau), New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMGF), and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). That study found that two endangered fish species, the Colorado squawfish and the razorback sucker, inhabited the San Juan River. This finding prompted reinitiation of Section 7 Consultation on major proposed water projects on the San Juan River. Section 7 Consultation on the Animas -La Plata Project (ALP) in 1991 resulted in the Bureau agreeing to fund approximately 7 years of research studies on the river. Following Consultation on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIIP) in 1991, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) agreed to assist with funding and to participate in the 7 -year research effort. This 7- year research effort was incorporated into the research requirements of the Program when it was formed, and the research has been carried out by a multiagency group that includes the USFWS, NMGF, Bureau, BIA, UDWR, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), National Park Service, Southern Ute Tribe, University of New Mexico, and other organizations. Under the Program, a multiagency Coordination Committee is responsible for assuring that the Program's goals are achieved in a timely manner. A multiagency Biology Committee directs and manages the research effort through annual work plans and budgets, and it reports annually on the progress of the research to the Coordination Committee. The research that has been conducted involves a variety of different studies, including studies on fish distribution and abundance, reproduction and recruitment, genetic integrity, habitat quantity and quality, water quality, and nonnative - native fish interactions. The Biology Committee was also responsible for preparing a Long Range Plan (LRP) for the Program, which was completed in January 1995. This plan outlined in detail the proposed recovery effort for the 15 -year period, as well as proposed timelines, budgets, and milestones of the program. The LRP included use of adaptive management strategies so that future research would be directed by the results of previous research. The 7 -year research plan developed as part of the ALP and NIIP San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program December 1997 Summary Report PR -602 -1