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<br />I . <br /> <br />effects on native fishes will be made by no later than 2005, at least two years prior to project <br />pumping from the Animas River. Once this mitigation recommendation is approved and agreed to <br />by the Service, CDOW, New Mexico Department of Game and fish (NlvfDGF), and perhaps the <br />Southern Ute Indian Tribe, its implementation will immediately begin. <br /> <br />5. Screen or implement other physical structures to prevent live fish from being released from <br />Ridges Basin Reservoir. The reservoir outlet system will be designed and tIlted with devices to <br />eliminate survival of tIsh escaping the reservoir. Reclamation will monitor escapement from the <br />reservoir and Basin Creek. <br /> <br />6. Provide for the acquisition and stocking of wild strains of trout annually in the Animas River <br />within the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation to compensate for fish loss due to <br />the reduction in usable trout habitat. Individual stocks of trout will be marked in such a manner <br />that age groups could be monitored over tirne. This monitoring plan will be developed in <br />consultation with the Service, CDOW, NMDGF, and the Tribe. The relative success of this effort <br />will be assessed after four years. If it is deemed a success-that is, if the trout biomass within the <br />stocked reaches of the river is elevated to a point of supporting a recreational fishery-the <br />stocking program will continue. For the acquisition of trout stock, Reclamation will consider the <br />development ofa new hatchery in cooperation with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and others. <br />This same hatchery could very well be utilized for providing for fish stocking for Ridges Basin <br />Reservoir. <br /> <br />7. Provide stocking of trout in Ridges Basin Reservoir to provide a recreational fishery. The <br />source of tish could be from an existing Colorado River Storage Project CRSP) hatchery facility <br />or from the acquisition and/or construction of a new hatchery facility. <br /> <br />8. Acquire at least two new public access points on the Animas River for fishing and other <br />recreational use. <br /> <br />Special Status Species <br /> <br />I. Implement conservation measures found in the latest Biological Opinion on the project (see <br />Appendix I for complete list). These measures address the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback <br />sucker that are found in the San Juan River and the bald eagle that is found throughout the project <br />area. The conservation measures include Reclamation's commitment to operate Navajo Reservoir <br />and the Durango Pumping Plant to mimic the natural hydro graph of the San Juan River to benefit <br />the endangered fish and their habitat. Also, Ridges Basin outlet facilities will be designed to <br />prevent escapement of nonnative fish, that might compete with native fish, into the Animas or <br />other area waterways. <br /> <br />2. Develop and implement a monitoring program for potential adverse bioaccumulation of trace <br />elements in bald eagle food items in Rid~es Basin Reservoir. If the program identifies a problem <br /> <br />6 <br />