WSPC05696

• File Number: 8240.300.31.A
• Description: Colorado River Threatened-Endangered Species - Recovery Program - San Juan - Project Description
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/1/1995
• Author: Unknown
• Title: San Juan River Basin - Recovery Implementation Program - Long Range Plans - February 1995
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 AUTHORITY

The San Juan Recovery Implementation Program has as its two major bases; 1)
obligation of all federal agencies operating in the basin to fulfill the requirements of
the Endangered Species Act and other statutes, and 2) the responsibilities and
authorities of the states and tribal governments for the stewardship and
management of natural resources of the Basin.

The San Juan Recovery Implementation Program (Program) became operational in
October 1992, executed by the signing of a Cooperative Agreement by the
Department of the Interior, the States of Colorado and New Mexico, and the Ute
Mountain Ute, the Southern Ute, and the Jicarilla Apache tribes. The Program
incorporated as its core the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative included in the
Biological Opinion for the proposed Animas.laPlata Project and the commitment of
involved agencies to a Seven Year Research effort to document the response of
the native fish community to flows released from Navajo Dam to mimic the natural
hydrograph of the San Juan River. The Navajo Indian Irrigation Project Biological
Opinion added to the requirements and incorporated specific information needs for
that project into the overall investigative effort. Subsequently, a Biological Opinion
was issued to the U.S. Bureau of land Management regarding oil and gas
development in the Basin. This Biological Opinion included participation of USBlM
in the Seven Year Research Plan. Other entities may enter the Program as a result
of Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation or as provided in the San Juan
River Recovery Implementation Program.

Section 5.3.1 of the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program document
sets forth the requirement of the Biology Committee to formulate a long Range
Implementation Plan IlRPI to establish milestones to be utilized in analyzing the
progress of the Program.

1.2 PURPOSE

The purpose of the 'long Range Plan is to provide the infrastructure necessary to
guide and document the delineation and accomplishment of recovery steps to
achieve the goals identified for the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation
Program. This long Range Plan provides milestones for marking progress in
achieving the goal of recovery of the endangered fish species. As set forth in the
Program document, the goals of the, Program are two-fold:

1.

. To conserve populations of Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker
in the Basin consistent with the recovery goals established under the
Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et~.

2.

To proceed with water development in the Basin in compliance with

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