WSP06993

• File Number: 8220.106
• Description: Animas-La Plata
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 8/18/1990
• Author: Ival Goslin
• Title: Current activities related to the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement and collateral construction of the Animas-La Plata Project with emphasis on the endangered species problem.
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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of these conferences the Bureau's proposal described for the States
on August 3 had to have several changes. On August 10 at a technical
level, the majority of the same representatives of the two States and
the Bureau met again at Farmington, New Mexico, to discuss the Bureau's
amended proposal. Although both New Mexico and Colorado had several
suggestions, it did not appear that the amendments made a solution to
the endangered species problem impossible, providing, of course, that
it would be acceptable by the Secretary of the Interior.

Because the informally negotiated proposal has not been finally
approved by all parties, it is impossible at this time to describe
details with predictive accuracy. On the other hand, it appears that
it may be possible for the Fish and Wildlife Service to issue a Final
Biological Opinion that would probably say that there is a jeopardy
status for endangered species in the San Juan River but, because many
facts are not definitely I<nown about the habitat and reproductive cycle
of the Colorado squawfish and razorbacl< sucl<er, additional investigative
studies over several years will be necessary. This research could be
done by regulation of the releases of water from Navajo Reservoir coupled
with a well-defined river management plan and an endangered fish recovery
program in the San Juan Basin. While this research program is under way,
construction could start on/and possibly be completed)on several of the
main features of Phase I of the Animas-LaPlata Project. Whether a solu-
tion to the endangered species program of this type can be consummated
is going to depend upon agreement of all interested parties.

It should be mentioned that New Mexico has raised a number of ques-
tions about using releases of water from Navajo Reservoir to enhance the
life cycle and habitat of endangered species in the river downstream solely
for the benefit of the Animas-LaPlata Project. New Mexico has several
other potential future projects that will cause additional depletions of
water from the San Juan River. Included among these are the Jicarilla
Indian water rights settlement, future units of the Navajo Indian Irriga-
tion Projec~ and a number of pending water contracts. Undoubtedly these

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