ALP 3

Contents
Introduction
As part of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) Biological Opinion for the Animas -La
Plata Project, Reclamation is required to implement eight conservation measures stated in the
Biological Opinion. The first four conservation measures are directed towards flow agreements
in the San Juan River (approximately 56 river miles downstream) from Navajo Reservoir and the
last three are for protecting bald eagles in the vicinity and for the recruitment of cottonwood trees
along the Animas River floodplain. �or conservation measure number 5, the Biological Opinion
states that "Reclamation will implement all actions necessary to prevent escapement of nonnative
fishes from Ridges Basin Reservoir (Lake Nighthorse) in any water leaving the reservoir.
Reclamation will consider the escapement of eggs and larvae in the design of an escapement
devise or method. Reclamation will monitor any water leaving Ridges Basin Reservoir to
determine if escapement of nonnative fishes is occurring. If escapement is occurring,
Reclamation will develop and implement a plan to stop escapement. The plan will be approved
by the Service prior to implementation" (USBR 2002). To address this USFWS conservation
measure, Reclamation has included Pratt energy dissipating sleeve valve ( ©Henry Pratt
Company) in the reservoir discharge pipe (figure 1) to eliminate fish and fish embryo survival
from the discharge water. The sleeve valve is designed for pressure reduction, pressure
retention, flow control, and energy dissipation from water released from the reservoir to
minimize downstream scouring of the outlet structure and river bed and is expected to eliminate
fish and fish embryo survival. The sleeve valve utilizes tapered control nozzles (0.63 inches in
diameter) in a multi -lead helical pattern having the larger end diameter on the outside of the
inner core valve (figure 2) and provides an efficiency of .94
http: //www.heinrypratt.com /products /specs.aspx ?I D -102.
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Discharge pipe
sump well pit
Sleeve Valve
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Comment [RH2]: This makes it sound like they
intend to build a fish escapement device or create a
method to monitor water leaving the reservoir. Will
the device or method impact operations? Who will
be responsible?