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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Reclamation has determined that 300 cfs [cubic feet per second] must bypass the San Acacia <br />Diversion Dam in order to keep a continuous flow to the headwaters of Elephant Butte Reservoir, <br />and to be in compliance with the ESA. <br /> <br />San Juan and Dolores River Basin Issues <br /> <br />Lower Rio Blanco Habitat Restoration Project Update: On June 17 the Lower Blanco <br />Property Owners Association hosted a barbecue on the banks of the Rio Blanco to celebrate the <br />completion of the first phase of the Lower Blanco Habitat Restoration Project. Approximately <br />100 local residents and officials were present including the San Juan County commissioners and <br />members of the San Juan Water Conservancy District. Tours were given of the river restoration <br />project and a kids fishing tournament was held. <br /> <br />Special recognition was given to the late Chuck Lile, who as Division 7 Engineer, <br />spearheaded the initial discussions that led to the development of the project. Later, as Director <br />of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, Chuck's continued leadership and support made the <br />project a reality. <br /> <br />Local residents and interested parties, under the guidance of the San Juan Water <br />Conservancy District, are seeking additional funding and support to continue the project with the <br />ultimate goal of seeing the entire Lower Blanco restored. Anyone wishing to tour the project <br />should contact the San Juan Water Conservancy District in Pagosa Springs. <br /> <br />Paradox Basin Quakes: The Paradox Unit of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control <br />Project, located along the Dolores River near the town of Bedrock, was built and is operated by <br />Reclamation. The unit deep well injects highly saline shallow groundwater into a limestone <br />formation over two miles below the ground pursuant to an injection permit issued and supervised <br />by the EPA. As fluid is injected at extremely high pressures the limestone formation is fractured <br />causing small earthquakes that can only be detected by an extensive seismic network built as part <br />of the project. Over Memorial Day weekend a magnitude 4,5 quake was felt on the surface and <br />reportedly caused some minor damage near Bedrock. Reclamation has accepted responsibility for <br />the quake, is meeting with the local community, assessing options to reduce the risk of further <br />quake damage, and is evaluating impacts on the project and salinity control objectives. Presently <br />they have scaled back operation of the unit by about a third of its design capacity. <br /> <br />New National Monument: On June 9 President Clinton proclaimed the establishment of <br />the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Montezuma County. The proclamation was <br />published in the Federal Register on June 13. The proclamation states that <br /> <br />This proclamation does not reserve water as a matter of Federal law, Nothing in this <br />reservation shall be construed as a relinquishment or reduction of any water use or <br />rights reserved or appropriated by the United States on or before the date of this <br />proclamation. The Bureau of Land Management shall work with appropriate State <br />authorities to ensure that any water resources needed for monument purposes are <br />available. <br /> <br />ALP EIS Issued: On July 14 Reclamation issued a Final Supplemental Environmental <br />Impact Statement for the Animas-La Plata Project. The proposed federal action is to implement <br />the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 (Pub. 1. 100-585) (Settlement <br /> <br />9 <br />