BOARD01832

• Board Meeting Date: 7/26/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Extension of the Cooperative Agreement for the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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STATE OF COLORADO

Colorado Water Conservation Board

Deparbnent of Natural Resources
[3[3 Shennan Street, Room 721
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
www.cwcb.state.co.us

MEMORANDUM

Bill Owens
Governor

. Russell George
Executive Director

TO:

Colorado Water Conservation Board Members

Rod Kuharich
CWCB Director

FROM:

Randy Seaholm #
Chief, Water Supply Protection

Dan McAuliffe
Deputy Director

DATE:

July 14, 2006

SUBJECT: Agenda Item 18, July 25-26, 2006 Board Meeting -Extension of the
Cooperative Agreement for the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program

Backl!round

On October 24, 1991 a "Memorandum of Understanding" was signed by the U.S.
Department of Interior, State of Colorado, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, Navajo Nation,
Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The MOU
set forth certain agreements, established the foundation for a long-term program to recover the
endangered fish species in the San Juan River Basin and initiate the 7-year research period called
for in the Animas.La Plata Biological Opinion to document the response of the native fish
community to releases from Navajo Dam in a pattern that mimics a natural hydrograph.
Subsequently, on November 1,1992 a "Cooperative Agreement" (Agreement) was
signed by the U.S. Department of Interior, State of Colorado, State of New Mexico, Jicarilla
Apache Tribe, Southern Ute Indian Tribe, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. The State of Utah
and the Navajo Nation elected not to participate in the Agreement at the time of signing;
however, the Navajo Nation has since become a participant. The Agreement set forth the
following:

. It established the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRIP)
and the terms and conditions for participation in and support ofthe Implementation
Program, including establishment of the committees to operate the program.

. It was to remain in place for IS-years or until November I, 2007.

. It required that protection of releases from Navajo Reservoir, per the Biological
Opinion for the Animas-La Plata Project, shall survive the termination of the
Agreement and last for the life ofthe Animas-La Plata Project.

Flood Protection. Water Supply Planning and Finance. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation and Drought Planning