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FE:B~15-91 FRI - 16:3';" B. O. R. UI:: REG I ot.~ r- . """ '-" . . . 5 coupled with 7 years of research to determine the flow needs of the fish fully offsets any adverse impacts of a 57,100 AF depletion to the endang~red fish or their habitat. 5. Reclamation maintains that any releases or deliveries of water from ~ Navajo Dam that are specific for restoring or enhancing the endangered fish ~~ community and their habitat must be legally protected throughout the fishes ~ ~M entire occupied habitat in the San Juan River before any depletions occur from (.IlT~) the ALP. Recommendat i on Reclamation agrees with the Team that a long-term Recovery Implementation Program be developed within 12 months for the San Juan River Basin. It was the opinion of the team that in order to satisfy the needs of all parties, the development of an RIP would take several months to develop and fully implement. It is Reclamation's opinion that if commitments can be made by all parties involved to satisfy element 5 above, and provide protection to the endangered fish during water short years, then the actual development an RIP can proceed in a manner to more fully accommodate the concerns of all parties. At a minimum, the RIP should: 1. PrOvide for the protection and enhancement of the native fish community. specifically the endangered species. ) ('I i ) 2. Outline a future Section 7 process for the San Juan River Basin. 3. Provide for long-term recovery of endangered fish inClUding the long-term research and monitoring of the native fish community. 4. Provide for the protection of instreamflows and reservoir releases and sharing of water shortages tJ,Yal1 federal projects) in the , ' " , San Juan River Basin. l_ -too 'Y,,,"C? '" 5.J~~""--"",f, Also, Reclamation supports the teams recommendation that because mimicry of the natural hydrography may affect the "blue ribbon" trout fishery in New Mexico, research should be conducted to determine the effects of reservoir releases for native fish on the tailwater trout fishery. A wide range of test flow conditions should be looked at during the next 7 years so definitive answers can be made regarding impacts to both the native fish community and the trout fishery. The RIP should provide for long-term research and monHoring of the native fish community of which the endangered species are an integral part. It is the opinion of both Reclamation and the team that research on the San Juan River needs to take a native fish community approach in order to recover the endangered species. Reclamation fully supports the above alternative and the basic assumptions upon which it is based. Furthermore, it is Reclamation's opinion that the development of a San Juan River RIP should provide the mechanism for securing and protecting needed water throughout the fishes occupied habitat when flow <;l