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. . if ~ Area Manager DRAFT 5 the intent of the Flow Recommendations (SJRJP 2003). Because of this, in 2002 the SJRJP Biology Committee of the SJRIP suggested that flows be monitored by following the "Three Gauge Rule": "Use the lesser of the average of Bluff, Four Comers and Shiprock (gauges) and the average of Farmington, Shiprock, and Four Comers (gauges). Extreme conditions (low or high flows) identified by Reclamation will be handled on a case-by-case basis with recommendations of the Biology Committee" (SJRIP 2003). Reclamation will use the "Three Gauge Rule" until a better system is developed. Figure 3 The proposed action was modified by Reclamation from what was presented in the July 2003 BA by inclusion of "extreme conditions" language. The extreme conditions language was modified by Reclamation from the Shortage Sharing Agreement language developed in response to the 2003 water year and provided to the Service via electronic mail. The 2003 shortage sharing recommendation documents can be found at htto://southwest.fWs.gov/siri%rogdocs.html. Prior to 2003, the hydrologic scenario used to model water availability in the San Juan Basin met the Flow Recommendations and water users received their full allocation. In 2003, Reclamation faced the possibility that there would not be enough water to meet the water demands of all the users and adhere to the Flow Recommendations. In response to the potential water shortage in the San Juan Basin, Reclamation worked with all the water users to develop an agreement to share shortages equally. This shortage sharing process has been included in the project description to illustrate the mechanism by which Reclamation shall define "extreme conditions," and describe San Juan River management under those conditions. Reclamation will utilize existing Navajo Reservoir Operations meetings, held three times a year, to discuss the upcoming period's operations. At these meetings, held in January, April, and, August of each year, Reclamation will solicit input regarding the many and diverse affected resources on the San Juan River from members of the public, government (local, state, Federal) agencies, Tribes, and others to gain the required information needed to regulate water releases from Navajo Reservoir. Reclamation will use existing water inflow forecasts, reservoir level, and historic averages to predict the water supply available to meet Flow Recommendations and authorized purposes. This information, along with the decision tree for peak flows, will be analyzed and considered by Reclamation to develop an operation plan, The operations will provide releases between 250 and 5,000 cfs. Reclamation will be responsible for implementing the operation plan following completion of a Record of Decision under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEP A) process. The proposed change in reservoir operation, along with other elements of the SJRIP, would conserve endangered fish in the San Juan River downstream from Farmington, New Mexico, and enable water development to proceed in the San Juan River Basin in compliance with applicable laws, compacts, court decrees, and American lndian trust responsibilities. Reclamation would continue to operate Navajo Dam to meet the authorized project purposes while modifYing reservoir release patterns to meet Flow Recommendations, which are designed to maintain or improve habitat for the razorback sucker and pikeminnow. Additional information can be found in the draft environmental impact statement on the project (Reclamation, 2002).