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<br />, , <br /> <br />- 12 - <br /> <br />projects will also be subject to serious scrutiny under Section 7 of <br />the Endangered Species Act. New Mexico's position is that these future <br />depletions should be treated the same way as the Animas-LaPlata Project <br />is treated with respect to the use of water from Navajo Reservoir for <br />the benefit of endangered species by off-setting adverse effects of the <br />projects. New Mexico claims a compact apportionment of water of the <br />Colorado River System that is based upon a total supply available to <br />the Upper Basin States that is greater than that recognized by the <br />Federal government. That claim, of course, if upheld, leads to increased <br />depletions of the river and, along with what appears to be New Mexico's <br />idea that the Navajo Reservoir is almost exclusively for the benefit of <br />New Mexico, is one of the reasons agreement has not been finally reached <br />with New Mexico. (Note: 1 am not being critical of New Mexico's claim <br />of her share of the river. 1 have a hunch that the other three Upper <br />Basin States should stal<e similar claims!) Appendix C is a statement <br />of the primary purposes of the Navajo Storage Unit. <br /> <br />Another problem for New Mexico pertains to the San Juan River being <br />a blue ribbon trout habitat for about 10 miles downstream from Navajo <br />Dam. During the winter about 500 cfs of water have been released from <br />the reservoir to maintain these trout. Under a new. regime of reservoir <br />releases, this streamflow in winter would have to be reduced to about 300 <br />cfs. At this time, it is not I<nown what the attitud~ of those organiza- <br />tions concerned with the welfare of exotic species of fish will be. <br /> <br />Recent hydrology studies indicate that there is sufficient water <br />available in Navajo Reservoir and enough flexibility in its operation to <br />accommodate the requirements of the research needed for studying the life <br />cycle of the squawfish and its habitat, and hopefully for their long-term <br />accommodation after the research period of about 5 years is ended, and also <br />fulfill the compact requirements of Colorado and New Mexico. Therefore, it <br />is believed that the New Mexico problems can be resolved. <br />