WSP01249

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1990
• Title: Correspondence regarding the Final Biological Opinion - 1991
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Biological Opinion

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PROPOSAL FOR A REASONABLE AND PRUDENT ALTER.~ATIVE

November 7, 1990

The states of Colorado and New Mexico have reviewed the draft BioIogical Opinion
for the Animas-La Plata Project issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of
Reclamation's September 28, 1990, Memorandum response to the Fish and Wildlife Service
on review of the Biological Opinion. We also have met with water users in both states and
the involved federal agencies to discuss Reclamation's approach to a reasonable and
prudent alternative. We are concerned that Reclamation's approach will not provide for
consummation of the Ute Indian water niht settlement of 1986 or pmvidr. a m~hanimT1
for completion of the Animas-La Plata Project and allow additional depletions of the San
Juan River system in Colorado and New Mexico. We believe that a reasonable and prudent
alternative to provide for all of the above depletions can be developed and offer the
following proposal. This proposal will provide a comparable level of protection for the
endangered species as that outlined in Reclamation's proposal dated September 28, 1990.

A. Initiate a San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (SJRP). The goal of
the program is to further investigate the biological and hydrological feasibility of
recovering the endangered fish (Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker) in the
San Juan River. The Program would include five basic recovery elements: 1)
habitat management, 2) habitat development and maintenance, 3) stocking of
native fish species, 4) non.native species and sportfuh management, and 5)
research, long-term monitor.ng and data management.

The recovery program would be developed cooperatively and signed by all the
appropriate parties necessary to ensure its successful implementation.

The SJRP will be developed immediately tD ensure that a feasibility investigation
and a five.year research project fDr the recovery program is promptly initiated and
to pennit additional utilizations of the water resources of the San Juan River.

B. The Bureau of Reclamation will develop criteria to provide up to 300,000 acre.feet
of peak spring releases from upstream reservoir storage in Navajo and Ridges Basin
Reservoirs to the SJRP as its primary water management tool. Until Ridges Basin
Reservoir is completed to the extent that it can store and release water, the spring
releases will be met from Navajo Reservoir to the extent possible. Reclamation will
determine the amount of spring releases or foregone diversions of Ridges Basin
Reservoir, if any, that can be provided to the SJRP while not interfering with the
amount of water available for the authorized uses of Ridges Basin ReservDir.

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