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<br />. . <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />~. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />impacts will be maximal during vital biological periods in the life <br />cycle of squawfish, the summer spawning period and the winter, cold-water <br />period. <br /> <br />Fluctuations in water levels and salinities are the rule rather than <br />the exception in the Colorado River Basin, and even under natural <br />conditions, the San Juan River had periodic salinities higher than 520 <br />mg/l and the flow occasionaly dropped to zero during short time periods. <br />The endemic fish species adapted to these variable conditions in a variety <br />of ways, two of which were an extended life span and larger size. These <br />adaptations result in a high, prolonged reproductive potential that can <br />accomodate several years of unsuitable conditions between successful <br />spawnings. However, these fluctuations will be buffered by the Animas- <br />La Plata Project, resulting in stable higher salinities and lower flows <br />than presently or naturally found in the San Juan River. <br /> <br />It.is my biological opinion that in spite 0: the alterations to the <br />San Juan River as a result of the proposed project, the action is not <br />likely to jeopardize the Colorado squawfish as a species nor destroy <br />habitat essential to their survival. During the time between the fish <br />reclamation (in 1961) and the present, Colorado squawfish have not re- <br />established their abundance in the San Juan Rivers as they did in the <br />Green River. but do appear to have maintained a small, .isolated population <br />in the lower river. The proposed project is likely to further degrade <br />the San Juan River to a point that this population will be lost. However, <br />because of the apparent small size of the San Juan River squawfish population <br />and its already tenuous hold on survival, its possible loss should have <br />little impact on the successfully reproducing Green and Colorado River <br />squawfish populations and therefore the species itself. Thus, the "no <br />jeopardy" opinion. However, Section 7 (a) of the Endangered Species Act <br />calls on all Federal agencies to "...utilize their authorities in further- <br />ance of this Act by carrying out programs for the conservation of Endangered <br />Species...." I find the Water and Power Resources Service Draft Environmental <br />Statement woefully negligent in meeting this portion of the Act for this <br />project, and make the following suggections in an attempt to bring your <br />activities more closely in line with purposes of the Act. <br /> <br />1. Thoroughly survey the native fish populations of the San Juan <br />River. <br /> <br />2. Determine the environmental needs of the Colorado squawfish. <br /> <br />. <br />