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249 Part of the proposed action is to implement a process of "adaptive management," whereby the 250 effects of dam operations on endangered fish and their habitat and downstream resources would 251 be monitored and the results of that monitoring would form the basis for possible future tests or 252 modifications of dam operations and/or the flow recommendations. Through this process there 253 might be water identified in the system or operations that could be available at different times or 254 for different uses. Adaptive management by the SJRBRlP is already considered within the flow 255 recommendations, in that the flow recommendations may be adjusted as new information is 256 gained through monitoring and research. This adaptive management program will be managed 257 by the SJRBRIP. 258 Impacts to also be monitored may include effects of dam releases on irrigation diversion 259 facilities, the trout fishery, and the ability to exercise or utilize water rights. This adaptive 260 management program will be overseen by Reclamation. The concept of adaptive management is 261 based on the recognized need for operational flexibility to respond to future varying conditions, 262 including weather, streamflow, channel morphology, and other ecosystem components. This part 263 of the adaptive management program will occur as part of Reclamation's existing Navajo 264 Reservoir Operations Meetings which will provide an organization and process for cooperative 265 integration of dam operations, resource protection and management, and monitoring and research 266 information. These meetings will ensure that the EIS purpose and need are met through future 267 advances in information and resource management. 268 FLOW RECOMMENDA nONS 269 Mimicry of a natural hydro graph is the basis of the flow recommendations for the San Juan 270 River. The recommendations provide flow variability that is at this time considered necessary to 271 create and maintain habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. The 272 recommendations integrate hydrology, geomorphology, habitat, and biology to define flow 273 magnitude, duration, and frequency for the spring runoff period and base flows for the non- 274 runoff periods. 275 In general the flow recommendations provide for a spring peak flow and a base flow at other 276 times of the year. For a complete description of the recommendations, refer to Flow 277 Recommendations for the San Juan River prepared by the SJRBRIP (Holden, 1999). The 278 "...flow/duration/frequency recommendations will result in a naturally varying hydrograph, 279 providing high-flow and low-flow years. These recommendations also provide for adequate base 280 flow conditions and peak flow conditions of sufficient magnitude, duration, and frequency to 281 provide suitable conditions for the endangered species. They can be achieved by using the 282 operating criteria for Navajo Dam outlined (in the Flow Recommendation Report) ,.. By 283 recommending operating rules, natural variability in the hydrograph is m3;intained and decision 284 making for annual releases from Navajo Dam is simplified." (Holden, 1999). 285 The operating criteria are considered recommendations; any operating procedure that would 286 allow the flow recommendations to be met would be acceptable. Flow recommendations are 10 00657