WSP02775

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 10/25/1991
• Title: Final Biological Opinion - 1991
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Biological Opinion

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A reasonable and prudent alternative that, in the oplnlon of the Service, would
avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the Colorado squawfish includes: (1) an
Animas-La Plata Project that results in an initial depletion of 57,100 acre-
feet, (2) 7 years of research to determine endangered fish habitat needs,
(3) operation of the Navajo Dam to provide a wide range of flow conditions for
the endangered fish, (4) a guarantee that the Navajo Reservoir will be operated
for the life of the Project to mimic a natural hydrograph based on the
research, and (5) legal protection for the reservoir releases to and through
the endangered fish habitat to Lake Powell and a commitment to develop and
implement a Recovery Implementation Program for the San Juan River. A
Memorandum of Understanding to implement the reasonable and prudent alternative
was executed on October 24, 1991 (Appendix A),

It is the Service's biological opinion that the Project, as described herein.
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the bald eagle.
Implementation of the Bald Eagle Management Plan, developed jointly by
Reclamation, the Service, and the States of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah will
aid in the conservation of the species.

Reclamation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs have agreed that all elements of
the reasonable and prudent alternative must be implemented to avoid the
likelihood of jeopardy to the endangered fishes. They also have agreed that
the conservation recommendation for the bald eagle is appropriate.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The following updated Project description is based on information provided to
the Service in Reclamation's Draft Hydrology Report for the Animas-La Plata
consultation (February 23, 1990). The Project, located in southwest Colorado
in La Plata and Montezuma Counties and northwest New Mexico in San Juan County,
would divert water from the Animas and La Plata Rivers to annually provide
118,100 acre-feet for full-service and supplemental irrigation use and
80,100 acre-feet for municipal and industrial uses. Project water would be
delivered to non-Indians and the Southern Ute. Ute Mountain Ute, and Navajo
Indian Tribes in both States. Project features include two storage reservoirs,
seven pumping plants, and over 200 miles of conveyance canals, conduits, and
laterals (Figure 1).

The Project water designated for the two Colorado Ute Tribes is a part of the
settlement of their reserved water rights claims. Under the Colorado Ute
Indian Water Rights Final Settlement Agreement of December 10, 1986, water to
be supplied from the Project in the amounts set out in the Project's Definite
Plan Report is to be provided to the tribes in partial settlement of their
reserved water rights.

Ridges Basin Reservoir, the primary storage facility, would be located on Basin
Creek. an intermittent tributary to the Animas River, southwest of Durango,
Colorado. The reservoir would have a maximum capacity of 280,000 acre-feet--
130,000 acre-feet of active, usable capacity and 150,000 acre-feet of inactive,
dead storage, Evaporation from Ridges Basin Reservoir is estimated at