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<br />o <br /><:.;;) <br />00 <br />,~ <br />c_'J <br />a <br /> <br />regimes, and other environmental changes associated with the construction and operation of reservoirs. <br />Contaminants, eradication of native fishes, sportfish-management activities such as stocking of nonnative <br />fishes, and predation and competition from introduced fishes have also been implicated in the decline of the <br />Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker (MinckJey et al. 1991, Tyus 1991, USFWS 1997). <br /> <br />In 1987, a 3-year research effort concentrating on the two endangered species in the San Juan River was <br />initiated by the u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau), New Mexico <br />Department of Game and Fish (NMGF), and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR). The study <br />participants found a number of young and adult Colorado pikeminnow and an adult razorback sucker, <br />confuming that both species still inhabited the San Juan River but apparently in relatively small numbers. <br />These findings prompted reinitiation of Endangered Species Act Section 7 Consultation (Consultation) on <br />major proposed water projects in the San Juan River Basin. Consultation on the Animas-La Plata Project <br />(ALP) in 1991 resulted in the Bureau agreeing to reoperate Navajo Dam to mimic a natural hydrograph, <br />fund approximately 7 years of research on the San Juan River to study the effect of flow changes, and <br />participate in and help fund an implementation program for recovery of the endangered fishes in the San <br />Juan River. Following Consultation on the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project in 1991, the Bureau of Indian <br />Affairs (BIA) agreed to support and participate in the 7 -year research effort and in the broader recovery <br />implementation program. <br /> <br />Because of Consultation requirements, the Bureau, BIA, and USFWS organized a broader recovery <br />program that included all agencies and entities involved with water use and resource development in the <br />San Juan River Basin. The San Juan River Basin Recovery hnplementation Program (SJRlP) was initiated <br />in 1992, with overall goals to conserve populations of the two endangered fish in the San Juan River <br />consistent with the recovery goals established under the Endangered Species Act and proceed with water <br />development in accordance with applicable laws and Indian trust responsibilities. In addition to the <br />USFWS, Bureau, and BIA, other original members of the SJRIP included: the states of New Mexico and <br />Colorado; the Ute Mountain Ute, Southern Ute, and Jicarilla-Apache Indian tribes; and waterdeveloprnent <br />interests. Members of the SJRIP that joined later were the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the <br />Navajo Nation. The 7-year research effort was incorporated into the SJRIP once the SJRIP was <br />underway. Two primary committees were established within the SJRIP. The SJRlP Biology Committee <br />(Biology Committee) was responsible for determining research priorities, conducting research and <br />coordinating research activities, assessing progress of the SJRIP, and providing progress reports and <br />budgets. The Biology Committee developed a Long Range Plan (LRP) (USFWS 1995) that guided <br />SJRIP activities, especially research efforts. The SJRIP Coordination Committee (Coordination <br />Committee) was responsible for: approving annual work plans, progress reports, and budgets; determining <br />SJRIP membership; and assuring long-range funding. <br /> <br />Research and recovery actions under the SJRIP were carried out by a rnultiagency group including <br />the USFWS, NMGF, Bureau, BIA, UDWR, BLM, National Park Service, Southern Ute Tribe, <br />Jicari1la-Apache Tribe, Navajo Nation, University of New Mexico, and other organizations. <br /> <br />September 2000 <br /> <br />1 - 2 <br /> <br />Program Evaluation Report <br />