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<br />28 <br /> <br />As a result, the Service concluded that there were no reasonable and prudent <br />alternatives that could be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended <br />purposes of the Project that were within Reclamation's legal authority and <br />jurisdiction, that were economically and technically feasible, and that would <br />avoid the likelihood of jeopardizing the continued existence of the Colorado <br />squawfish. The first draft biological opinion was released for review on Hay 7, <br />1990, However, discussions continued in an effort to find a reasonable and <br />prudent alternative. <br /> <br />Reclamation's Review of Mav 7. 1990 Draft Bioloaical ODinion <br /> <br />After release of the Hay 7, 1990, draft biological opinion, Reclamation <br />assembled fishery biologists from Federal, State, and private agencies during <br />the summer of 1990 and solicited their review of the findings contained in the <br />draft biological opinion to help Reclamation formulate its response. On <br />September 28, 1990, Reclamation sent a memorandum (Appendix D) to the Service <br />with its review of the draft biological opinion for the Project. Based on <br />additional hydrological analyses, discussions with the fishery biologists. and <br />discussions with the Service since the release of the draft biological opinion, <br />Reclamation concluded that: <br /> <br />1. New hydrological information suggested that there is additional <br />flexibility in the operation of the Navajo Dam. By reducing late fall and <br />winter releases, water could be made available to increase spring peaks <br />and return the San Juan River to a more natural hydrograph that would <br />mimic historical flow conditions. <br /> <br />2. Updated hydrology modeling indicated that approximately 300,000 acre-feet <br />of water could be made available from the Navajo Reservoir operation to <br />re-create the spring peak flows in the San Juan River. <br /> <br />3. The San Juan River population of endangered fish is important to the <br />survival and recovery of the species. <br /> <br />4. In addition to flow depletions, other conditions presently occurring in <br />the San Juan River, including proliferation of nonnative species, water <br />quality degradation, the blocking of migration routes, and loss of <br />riparian areas, are extremely detrimental to the survival and recovery of <br />the endangered fish, <br /> <br />In addition, Reclamation's memorandum stated that the fishery biologists had <br />determined that: <br /> <br />1. They were in consensus that the Hay 7, 1990, draft biological opinion <br />accurately reflected the current or known status of the Colorado squawfish <br />in the San Juan River, <br /> <br />2. They supported the jeopardy conclusion of the Hay 7, 1990 draft biological <br />opinion. <br /> <br />3, They believed that there may be a potential for developing a reasonable <br />and prudent alternative which could offset impacts caused by certain <br />further depletions to the San Juan River. <br />