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<br />direction of the SJRBRlP Biology Committee, to determine the flow requirements of the
<br />endangered Colorado Pikeminnow and the razorback sucker (a candidate species that had only just
<br />achieved endangered status as of October 23, 1991), In exchange for this commitment, the ALP
<br />Project was given an initial average annual depletion allowance of 57, I 00 acre-feet
<br />On f:'cbruary 2G, 199G, a s~cunu biological opinion was issued tor ALP, in relation to critical
<br />habitat, and placed further restrictions on the allowable depletions, The opinion concluded that the
<br />depletion of 57, 100 acre-feet per year could not be exceeded in anyone year until all the elements
<br />of the RPA were completed and/or implemented, This limitation was waived in the event that
<br />Reclamation lowered winter releases from Navajo to 300 cfs, to provide the extra flexibility in
<br />releases described in the hydrology section ofthc 1991 biological opinion, If that condition existed,
<br />then the project could maintain an average annual depletion of57,100 acre-feel.
<br />
<br />Under the direction of the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
<br />(SJRBRlP) Biology Committee, test releases were conducted and evaluated during the 1992-98
<br />research period, resulting in the flow recommendations that Reclamation is proposing to meet by
<br />modifying the operating rules for Navajo Reservoir,
<br />
<br />On October 29, 1996, Reclamation agreed under terms of a legal settlement with the San
<br />Juan Fly Fishing Federation, to prepare an EIS before initiating any permanent change in operations
<br />at Navajo Dam under the SJRBRlP, and to complete compliance with NEP A before reducing flows
<br />below 500 cfs in the future,
<br />
<br />Reclamation intends to produce the EIS in a responsible and sound economic manner that
<br />is scientifically credible and legally defensible, During this process, in an effort to control the cost
<br />of developing this EIS as a major objective, emphasis will be placed on utilizing existing available
<br />data, as specified under NEPA regulations, to analysis flow recommendation impacts, It is
<br />anticipated that the use of existing information will reduce the amount of time, labor and associated
<br />cost to prepare the EIS and complete the NEPA analysis,
<br />
<br />San Juan River Basin Reeovery Implementation Program (SJRBRIP)
<br />
<br />The SJRBRlP was initiated in 1992 with two goals:
<br />
<br />I, To conserve populations of Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker in
<br />the basin, consistent with the recovery goals established under the
<br />Endangered Species Act, 16 U ,S,(, 1531 et seq,
<br />
<br />2, To proceed with water development in the basin in compliance with Federal
<br />and state laws, interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees, and Federal trust
<br />responsibilities to the Southern Utes, Ute Mountain Utes, Jicarilla Apaches,
<br />and the Navajo Nation,
<br />
<br />Emphasis within the SJRBIP has been placed on identifying limiting factors and
<br />
<br />Draft May 15,2000
<br />
<br />5
<br />
<br />Plan of Approach for Navajo Dam Operations EIS
<br />
<br />O<r,ng
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