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<br /> <br />..' <br /> <br />era <br /> <br /> <br />." ' <br /> <br />ows critical <br />to' fish species, <br />~ge~cy says <br /> <br />e . <br />Durango <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />By Barry Smith <br />Herald CRy Editor <br /> <br />How can 26 squawfJSh in the San <br />Juan River stop a $422 million wa- <br />ler project on the eve of <br />construction? Herald staff <br />When the endangered species and wire reports <br />was found in the river -in 1987. Gov. Roy Romer said Tues. <br />1988 and 1989. it was something of day he may seek an exemption <br />a surprise to biologists who hadn't to the Endangered Species Act <br />heard of any in almost 10 yean. that would permit construe- <br />The real surprise was the 17 tion of the Animas-La Plata . <br />young-of-the-.year found in 1987. Project despite its threat to en- <br />indicating that the rare species was dangered squawflsh. <br />reproducing in the river below "We must nOI lose the <br />Shiprod. . Animas-La Piau Project:' said <br />In its draft report issued Tues- Romer. <br />day. the U.S. Fish and WtldlifeSer- Here are other reactions to <br />vice notes that 1987 also saw the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- <br />highest flows on the Sanjuan. The vice study that could kill the <br />conclusion ofbiologisu was that the .project: ,--",J ~ ,",': <br />higher the flows, the better ~ Y' "The fish isjust the last in <br />of squawfLlh reproducing. ,i ,- 'a long line of problems with <br />I ;,~ With that in mind~they refused this project," said'David Con- <br />to allow-the ~La Plata ~... '""rad"a,.'tr.c-.,...atioilal' Wildlife <br />ject to deplete Sanjuan River flows Federation. "It's one of the <br />at aU. In fact, the report suggests least economicany feasible wa- <br />that existing projects in the ~n ter projects ever planned." <br />juan Basin should be ~eleaslOg Y' "The political envirocrats <br />more water. are more interested in putting <br />"That's a possibility," said Galen the ann on people than 501- <br />Buterbaugh, regional director of 'ving the problem. It shows <br />the Fish and W"ddlife Service. "Or it power corrupts," said Rolly <br />could just mean the timing of Fischer, secretary-engineer of <br />releases." the Colorado River Water <br />The Animas-La Plata Project ',:' Conservation District. "It's an <br />would drain 154,800 acre-feet an- outrage and an attempt to pre- <br />nuaUy from flows in the Animas vent the Upper Basin states <br />and La Plata riven that ordin~y from developing their water." <br />would feed the San juan and uu- Y'..It is my hope that, work- <br />prove habitat for squawfish. ing together. they (Fish and <br />According to the FISh and Wdd- Wildlife Service, Ute tribes <br />life Service, the project would reo and representatives of Color- <br />duce average monthly flows by as ado and New Mexico) could <br />little as 5 percent in wet yean and fmd a solution that would re-. <br />as mucl1 as 55 percent in adryyear. solve the endangered species <br />"The fact that the Animas-La concerns without halting con- <br />Plata further dt'r,ll~!es fiq'.;~ 0'..lring ~tnlr:ti,)~!, ,~' th: .~ r,:,~,,'~-~a <br />peak. runoff pen0d!l is 0. tof.cern Piata Pr"'j\ C~. ,,"'hleh I~ es~..nual <br />to the Service because this period is for mee~ng the water nee~s of <br />of great signifICance geomorphi- ~th Indians and ~?n-~ndtans <br />cally and ecologically," the report 10 the Southwest, laid Sen. <br />says. . . Tim Wirth. D-Colo. <br /> <br />'7his is the mostdynanuc penod JIf6 "All of this to protect a <br />in the cycle, ai1~ it precedes the handful of fISh never found <br />very critical spawnmg period of the closer than 90 miles from the <br />endangered fuhes," it qys. site of the Animas-La Plata <br />The U.S. BureauofRedamation Project is baffling," said Ute <br />I offered to supply 90,800 acre--feet Mounta.in Ute chairwoman <br />from Navajo Dam to make up for (PI- Roe A.LP, Pap S) <br /> <br />(PIeue lee FLOWS, rap 16) <br /> <br />Report draws <br />quick responses <br />