WSP04942

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 4/1/1996
• Title: Final Supplement to the Final Environmental Statement - Executive Summary
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

"-"'I

BOR-WCAOS SD

ID:970-385-6539
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MAY 17'96
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10:25 No.OOl P.04

SummaI)'

The 1980 FES Plan. the selected ahcmallve In the 1980 FES. embodies the present Proposed PJ~n
without retinements that have occurred since that time. It includes many of the same major features as
those of the Proposed Plan. but It does not pro\'ide for phased constrUction. Additional alternativcs
conSIdered but detenmned infeasible lII'e desCflbed in Chapter 11 of the FSFES cnd in Ihe oI04(b)(I)
Evaluation. .

ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT CONSULTATION

Reclarnallon plllticipated in studies of endangered fish in the San Juan River from 1987 LO 1989. In
Fcbl'lllll'Y 1990, Reclamation reinitialed fonnal consul18tion with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) under Section 7 of the Endangered SpecIes Act lESA) based upon new information about
Colorado squawfish. The Service then issued a draft Biological Opinion that stated the Project is likely
to jeoplII'dizc the continued existence of Colorado squawfish and that no reasonable and prudent
alternativcs (RP As) were idenllfied to offset jcoplll'dy to the endangmd fish. From JWle 1990 through
March 1991. Reclamation consulted with Federal. StaIC. Tribal. and private expcrts and agenclcs 10
develop an RP A that would offset Jeopardy 10 tbe endangered fish and allow consUlletion of the Project
to begin.

In SURUnIllY, the Biological Opinion issued by the Service on October 25. 1991, contained a RPA which
would allow consUllction of several Project features (including Durango Pumping Plant. Ridges Basin
Inlet Conduit, Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir. and other features) and initial annual water depletions
forthe Project of 57. 1 00 acre. feet. At the same time, on approximately 7-year research study of
~'Ildangered fish in the San Juan River (?yelll' reselll'ch study) would be conducted. ~nd Navajo Dam
would be operated 10 mimic the natural hydrograph of the San Juan River ond provide flows needed for
the resemh period. Subsequently, consultation was reinitiated to address such new infonnation as
designation of critical habitat for endangered fish ond listing of the southwestern willow flycatcher. That .
consultation concluded with a final Biologica1 Opinion and an RP A on the cndangered fish from the
Serviec dated February 1996. allowing an initial average annual depletion of 57,1 00 acre-feet. Other
requirements of this RP A lII'e generally also similar to those of the previous RP A.

PROJECT OPERATION AND CONSTRUCTION

The Project would be constructed and operated in twO phases as a result of a 1986 Cost Sharing
Agreement and the subsequent Settlement Act (both discussed below). In addition, because of the RP A
and the resulting 57,100 initial average annual aere.fect depletion limitation. the first phase has been
separated into tWO distinct stages (A and B). Project fcatures and water supply by phases ond stages arc
shown on tables S.I and S-2.

Phase I, Stage A

Reclamation would develop an initial aMual Project water supply of 80,100 acre-feet. F ocilitics
eonsuucted for Phase I, Stage A would include: Durango Pumping Plant, Ridges Basin Inlet Conduit,
Ridges Basin Dam and Reservoir, a small Ridges Basin Pumping Plant; Ridges Basin Reservoir
recreation facilities, and Durango, Shenondoah, and La Plata Rural M&I Pipelines.

In Phase I. Stage A. Durango Pwnping plant and its appurtcoant structures would be designed with
capability to accommodate future water deliveries (Phase 1. Stage B and Phase 11). Duranio M&J

s.]