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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basin Issues <br /> <br />Animas-La Plata Project: On April 17, the EP A notified Reclamation that it has <br />continuing concerns about the proposed Animas-La Plata Project and needs additional <br />information about two alternatives described in an environmental impact statement for the <br />project. Signed by EP A Regional Administrator in Denver Bill Yellowtail, the letter asks for <br />more detail as to how the impacts of alternatives are being compared. The EP A believes the <br />Bureau focused mainly on a comparison of the acres of wetlands that would be lost with little <br />attention to differences in the functions of the wetlands and impacts on native fisheries and <br />upland species habitat. EP A wants to know more about the criteria used to evaluate the <br />alternatives. EP A suggested that the final impact statement provide "detailed plans for <br />mitigation of wetland and other habitats." The Agency wants to know if lands targeted for <br />mitigation are available and if water intended to offset impacts on native fish habitats is <br />available. <br />The Regional EPA says it wants more information before it advises Congress whether <br />"Refined Alternative 4" (which includes Ridges Basin reservoir) complies with a key section of <br />the Clean Water Act. Additionally, EPA complained that the latest EIS "does not provide <br />sufficient information regarding the analysis of the least damaging alternative." The full text of <br />the letter is available on the Internet at htto://www.epa.gov/region08/news/newsOO/animas2.odf. <br /> <br />Navajo Reservoir Releases: Reclamation has announced that beginning May 25 releases <br />from Navajo Reservoir into the San Juan River, will be increased from 500 to 5,000 cubic feet <br />per second (cfs). Releases are expected to reach the 5,OOO-cfs level on June 1. Navajo Reservoir <br />needs to be lowered approximately 13 feet by July for maintenance and repair work on the two <br />72-inch hollow jet valves at Navajo Dam. The USFWS has recommended that a 5,OOO-cfs spring <br />release is the best way to lower the reservoir and to protect and enhance endangered fish habitat. <br /> <br />McPhee Reservoir Releases to Dolores River: Reclamation and the Dolores Water <br />Conservancy District announced on April 10 that the runoff forecast of 102 percent of normal <br />will allow downstream releases to the Dolores River, that were at 50 cfs to be increased to a <br />raftable flow of 800 cfs by April18.Information concerning forecasts, snow conditions, river and <br />reservoir status can be obtained at the following websites: <br />. River Status: http://nwis-colo.cr.usgs.gov/ and <br />htm:/! dwr .state .co. us/H vdro 10 gv!flow search. asp . <br /> <br />. McPhee Reservoir: htto:/lwww.doloreswater.com and releases <br />htm:! !dataweb.usbr. govlhtmlldolores.html or htm:!!www .uc.usbT. gov!. <br /> <br />. Dolores River rafting information: htto:/lwww.co.blm.gov/siralsira.html <br /> <br />National Conservation Area Proposal: Senator Campbell introduced S-2034 on <br />February 3, the "Canyons of the Ancients National Conservation Area Act." The bill establishes <br />the Canyons of the Ancients National Conservation Area in Southwest Colorado and requires the <br />Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management, to manage the Area in <br />a specified manner. The bill directs the Secretary of the Interior to: (1) develop a comprehensive <br />management plan for the long- range protection and management of the Area; and (2) establish <br /> <br />11 <br />