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-.' o o (") , ."\ 17 ~ 00 to wait until a sufficient number of wild San J.uan River fish are available to serve as broodstock. Most of the 939 experimentally stocked razorback sucker were from a single family lot. The introduction of additional genetic variability over the next five years would may have a positive effect on the genetic integrity of a future San Juan population. Thus, the use of Mohave stock is listed as the last priority, but remains a viable option should circumstances dictate that augmenting the San Juan population requires it. Following stocking, monitoring of razorback sucker will occur at least twice annually and will be coordinated with the development of a Program-wide, long-term monitoring plan. All precautions currently in place will be used in the capture and handling of the fish. Any take associated with the investigations concerning the razorback sucker is delineated in research permits issued under Section 1 O(a)( 1 )(Al of the Endangered Species Act. There is expected to be no effect on the Colorado squawfish populations in the San Juan River. There is expected to be no effect on the southwestern willow flycatcher; the 1997 stocking will occur after any flycatchers utilizing the San Juan River riparian community have left for wintering grounds. Subsequent stockings that may occur in future years will be scheduled in either August or September and will not disturb riparian habitats in which flycatchers (at the end of the June to August breeding cycle) may be found. B. NO ACTION Under the No Action Alternative, the proposed plan to augment the San Juan River population of razorback sucker would not occur in 1997. However, the Implementation Program, with its attendant commitment to research on and recovery of the endangered fish species of the San Juan River would continue. The biological and hydrological investigations now underway would continue; the analysis by the Bureau of Reclamation of the reoperation of Navajo Dam to mimic the natural hydrograph of the San Juan River and provide releases from Navajo Dam for the benefit of the endangered fish species would continue; research required in the Biological Opinion for the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project would also continue. Federal agencies would still be required to comply with the mandates of the Endangered Species Act to insure that actions they propose to authorize, fund, or carry out are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of threatened or endangered species or result in the adverse modification or destruction of critical habitat for listed species. C. EITHER ALTERNATIVE Because this proposal entails no modification of releases from Navajo Dam, the manipulation of flows would be the same under the No Action Alternative or for the proposed implementation of the augmentation plan.