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Addendum: <br /> Dolores Water Conservancy District Concerns: <br /> Potential Impacts of Tres Rios/San Juan Final LRMP/EIS <br /> On Collaborative Adaptive Management Efforts <br /> The release of the Final Tres Rios/San Juan Land and Resource Management Plan in <br /> September of 2013 has complicated the collaborative efforts described above as a <br /> result of abrupt and unexpected changes in the Draft Plan issued in December 2007. <br /> These changes in the Tres Rios/San Juan Plan thrust DWCD and our collaborative <br /> partners into a very awkward situation. The magnitude of these changes have also <br /> prompted DWCD to take a much closer look at the potential ramifications of all the <br /> proposed changes on the Dolores River below the San Miguel confluence. Below is a <br /> brief summary of DWCD concerns that may be relevant to the presentations and <br /> discussions that will unfold during this workshop and beyond: <br /> 1. The Draft Plan (2007) listed the roundtail chub (which appears to have viable <br /> populations in the planning area) as the only native fish ORV. The Final Plan added <br /> two more native fish ORVs (flannel mouth and bluehead suckers) that are scarce in <br /> the planning area. The Plan also introduced habitat flow standards that are not <br /> achievable in the planning area below McPhee Dam. <br /> 2. DWCD and a variety of entities concerned with water management have protested <br /> and appealed the plan to roll back the flow habitat standards, and challenge the <br /> basis for Suitability/ORV determinations. Parties include: DWCD, SWCD, <br /> Montezuma and Dolores Counties, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, <br /> Governor's Consistency Review, Colorado Water Congress, and Colorado River <br /> District. <br /> 3. Primary DWCD concerns: Risk to water rights and allocations intended for <br /> protection as part of the Native Fish Implementation Plan and NCA Legislation. <br /> DWCD is also concerned that flexibility to conduct adaptive management <br /> experiments will be constrained by added risks in any NEPA proceeding resulting <br /> from unachievable flow standards and native fish ORV obligations. <br /> 4. It is hoped that the Plan Protests and Appeals will resolve these concerns. <br /> 5. DWCD is also concerned about the potential impact on the Dolores Project of the <br /> proliferation of federal action below the San Miguel confluence including: Added <br /> suitability and Native Fish ORVs contemplated in Grand Junction and Uncompahgre <br /> BLM Plans as well as the BLM request for one of the largest instream flows in the <br /> history of the program between the San Miguel confluence and Gateway. (See Wild <br /> and Scenic Suitability Status Map and Table). <br /> 3 <br />