ALP 23

CHAPTER 4
OTHER IMPACT CONSIDERATIONS
The 2,340 afy depiction provided under the ALP Project would only satisfy a portion of the water needs
of the Navajo Nation. The new NNMP would help meet current water demands in the 5hiprock area.
Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Impact 3: The following measures would provide some
mitigation for the projected impacts.
% While Reclamation agrees that future Navajo Nation water development may be adversely affected
% hccause of Section 7 concerns, Reclamation also believes that it is still possible that some Navajo Nation
% water development could occur even if associated with a federal action. The Service, working with
% Reclamation and other relevant federal agencies, could develop other potential measures, including water
% management strategies, that can be undertaken as RDA's that would allow development of future water
% projects. Whether such RPA's exist is something that will only be determined through the Section 7
% consultation process. Thus, it is premature to conclude that development of NiIP and ALP will preclude
% further federally- related water development in the San Juan basin. The Section 7 consultation process,
% including participation of the tribe seeking to use water, will need to evaluate all potential RPAs.
% It should be reiterated that the Administration Proposal, as represented by Refined Alternative 4, was
% developed, in part, to eliminate the impact of the original ALP project on the Navajo Nation. The
% original project envisioned the depletion of 149,000 afy from the San Juan River Basin. Although the
% full project has not been cleared to proceed under ESA, the finality of the Administration Proposal
% intended to ensure that both the Navajo Nation and Jicarilla Apache Tribe will not be competing with
% additional ALP project depictions in the future. in sum, this proposed action, in and of itself, is
% mitigation to the trust assets of the Navajo Nation (as well as the Jicarilla Apache Tribe). Other
% mitigation includes:
% U Continue active participation in the San Juan River Basin Recovery implementation Program to
% promote the dual goals of recovery of endangered species and proceed with water development in
% the basin. The SJRBRIP is key to facilitating additional water development by the Navajo
% Nation. Reclamation's participation includes:
% - Provide substantial technical support in the development and refinement of a
% comprehensive hydrology model to allow realistic, supportable projections of future
% water uses within the basin;
% - Continue to optimize the operating rules for Navajo Dam to provide more efficient
% fulfillment of the flow recommendations necessary for endangered species recovery;
% - Implement an adaptive management program associated with the operation of Navajo
% Reservoir to evaluate biologic responses to normative hydrograph.
% ❑ Operate the Durango Pumping Plant to limit pumping during dry years, allowing more water to
% be available in Navajo Reservoir to meet project demands (see Section 3.2).
% U Facilitate discussions between the Navajo Nation and other parties with interests in the San Juan
% River Basin. interested parties will include, but not be limited to, the Colorado Ute Tribes,
% Jicarilla Apache Tribe, the Service, and private parties with existing contracts from Navajo
% Reservoir. Discussions will aim to develop options for obtaining adequate water for the Navajo-
% Gallup Project.
4.6 ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND
INDIAN TRUST ASSETS 4-26