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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />various restoration projects to improve channel conveyance capacity, reduce <br />vulnerability to flood damages. improve water diversion. restore riparian habitat. <br />and facilitate delivery of interstate compact commitments. The scope of work for <br />the planning investigation shall be developed by the board in consultation with a <br />technical advisory committee consisting of water users interested in the Rio Grande <br />basin in Colorado. <br /> <br />The San Luis Valley Water Conservancy District was designated by the legislation as the agency <br />to receive the funds to complete the study. In order to assure that the study is consistent with the concerns <br />ofresidents and interest groups in the area, three scoping meetings were conducted in October 1999. <br />Issues from the legislation authorizing the study include: charmel conveyance capacity; vulnerability to <br />flood damages; water diversion; riparian habitat; and, delivery of interstate compact commitments. The <br />other issues identified by the group include: charmel instability; public access; protection of existing <br />infrastructure; comparing "mechanical" approaches to river problems versus "biological" approaches; <br />clarification of regulatory requirements; water quality issues; endangered species; the effects of flood <br />control projects on the river charmel; and, activities in the upstream watersheds that may affect river <br />stability or water quality. <br /> <br />Our staff is retuming to Monte Vista for follow-up meetings to continue the work begun in <br />October. We have asked for volunteers for a Technical Advisory Committee. The goal of subsequent <br />meetings will be to continue issue identification and prioritization. The result will be the development of <br />an Request for Proposals (RFP) containing engineering, plarming and GIS tasks for consultants to review <br />and respond to. After a consultant is hired, the engineering and plarming work of the project will begin. <br />We will keep you informed about our progress each step of the way. <br /> <br />New Mexico Water Conference: On Oct 22 and 23 New Mexico hosted its armual water <br />conference. This year the conference focused on "Water Challenges on The Lower Rio Grande." <br />Reclamation Commission Eluid L. Martinez discussed "Transfers of Reclamation Project Water from <br />Historic Irrigation to New M&I Uses." His speech is attached for your information. <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basin Issues <br /> <br />New Ute Settlement Legislation Introduced: On October 20, U.S. Rep. Scott McInnis introduced <br />H.R. 3H2, the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of1999. <br /> <br />Reclamation Holds Scoping Meetings Navajo Pam Operations: Reclamation is preparing a draft <br />EIS on the operations of the Navajo Dam and Reservoir. The draft EIS describes the effects of operating <br />the dam and reservoir to implement flow recornmendations provided by the San Juan River Basin <br />Recovery Implementation Program to mimic the natural hydrograph of the San Juan River. This would <br />help create and maintain habitat and a healthy biological community in order to conserve populations of <br />the endangered razorback sucker and the Colorado pikeminnow. Scoping meetings were held on Nov. 3 <br />in Farmington, New Mexico; on Nov. 4 in Durango; on Nov. 9 in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and on <br />Nov. 10 in Pagosa Springs. Comments should be sent to Reclamation by Dec. 10, 1999. <br /> <br />Yampa and White River Basin <br /> <br />Yampa Water Management Planning: The process of assisting the USWS in the preparation of <br />a Programmatic Biological Opinion for the Yampa River basin is continuing. The next meeting of the <br /> <br />19 <br />