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II. SAN JUAN RIVER RECOVERY PROGRAM <br />A. Hydrologic Modeling of the Basin <br />The San Juan River Basin Model in CRDSS is being used extensively to check <br />the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's PRSYM model and the natural flows utilized by that <br />model. As a result, we have discovered that return flows have not been lagged in the <br />natural flows used by PRSYM. Furthermore, it does not appear that operations of all <br />smaller reservoirs were adequately considered in development of the natural flows for <br />PRSYM. This along with the ability to model water rights explicitly and account for <br />shortages in more detail does result in some significant differences between the two <br />models. We are in the process of resolving these differences in the Hydrologic <br />Workgroup at present and will do our best to keep the process leading to flow <br />recommendations for the endangered fish in the San Juan River on schedule, but, only so <br />long as acceptable hydrologic results are obtained. <br />B. Review of Environmental Baseline Conditions <br />Colorado and New Mexico are also reviewing the information that was originally <br />provided for use in the environmental baseline generated for the Animas -La Plata Project <br />Biological Opinion. Colorado, with the aid of the Division 7 Water Engineer and data <br />they compiled for use in CRDSS, has generated a list of diversion structures for each <br />water district in the San Juan River basin along with the average and maximum amounts <br />diverted. CRDSS will also be used to compare how the consumptive uses from these <br />diversion structures compare on a water district basis with the consumptive use data <br />previously provided. This information will then be reviewed by water users in the San <br />Juan Basin prior to being conveyed to the Service and Reclamation for use in developing <br />the environmental baseline conditions used in the hydrologic modeling. <br />We realize that this is a very quick overview of all the things that are currently <br />ongoing with the two Recovery Program efforts. We will update you further at the July <br />Board Meeting and try and answer any questions that you have. <br />Attachments <br />1\boardmem \may97 \20b.doc <br />t <br />5 <br />