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<br />conditions for the period 1929-1993 has been established as the criteria for assessing the efficiency <br />of any operating rule change or development project. <br /> <br />Several development scenarios were analyzed with these rules in place, representing <br />:r:crcmciltally c;.eatei aJi"jUJlb ur ut:plt:lion, w"niie the actuai amount ot additional depletion allowed <br />is dependent upon the nature of the depletion, the scenarios analyzed indicated that an additional <br />depletion of at least 122,000 acre-feet could be made and the flow reconunendations met. This level <br />of depletion is sufficient to complete NIlP, but not much more, It is likely that a set of operating <br />rules could be developed that would allow better optimization of the required flow conditions while <br />conserving water for development. If that can be done, then additional project depletions beyond <br />NIlP could occur, <br /> <br />Related or Connected Actions <br /> <br />Navajo Reservoir Operations is a connected action to several water resource activities in the <br />San Juan basin, Re-operation of Navajo Reservoir is a component of the RP A arrived at through <br />Section 7 consultation for several authorized or proposed projects in the San Juan River Basin, <br /> <br />Final biological opinions on other San Juan Basin projects follow the precedence set by ALP, <br />On March 4, 1998, fmal biological opinions were issued on the Mancos Water Conservancy District <br />(irrigation and M&I water conversion), and the Florida Project (water sales contracts), Language <br />in these opinions state that: <br /> <br />To avoid jeopardy to the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker and to avoid <br />destruction or adverse modification from the 200 acre-feet water depletion, Reclamation, in <br />consultation with the Service, will re-operate Navajo Dam to mimic the natural hydrograph <br />of the San Juan River, as agreed to as a result of consultation on the Animas-La Project. This <br />operations agreement also will serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative to the subject <br />project. <br /> <br />The biological opinion for the completion of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project (NIlP) <br />includes a commitment for operation of Navajo Dam to meet the flow recommendations, Upon <br />completion of these Section 7 consultations, the operation of Navajo Dam will not be dependent <br />upon completion of those projects; however, construction of those projects is dependent upon the <br />operation of Navajo Dam, <br /> <br />Other projects include the Navajo-Gallup Pipeline, completion of blocks 9-11 of NIlP, <br />implementation of some or all of the Jicarilla Apache water right settlement, and related minor water <br />service contracts, <br /> <br />Reclamation is also preparing a Navajo Reservoir Resource Management Plan (RMP) and <br />associated Environmental Assessment for long-term management of land related resources at the <br />reservOIr. <br /> <br />Draft May 15, 2000 <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />Plan of Approach for Navajo Dam Operations EIS <br /> <br />001291 <br />