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<br />I. <br />r <br />~~ <br />~\ <br /> <br />- 9 - <br /> <br />.J:: <br /> <br />on the possibility of releasing water from Navajo Reservoir to <br />aid in the preservation of the Colorado squawfish. The Bureau of <br />Reclamation had previously provided summaries of its studies to me. <br />It was reassuring to note that Mr. Bethel's study and that of the <br />Bureau were very comparable. Both show conclusively that, on a <br />long-term basis, there is water available from Navajo Reservoir to <br />enhance the habitat and life cycle of the squawfish and at the same <br />time provide sufficient water to meet the compact entitlements of <br />Colorado and New Mexico, providing a satisfactory operating plan can <br />be formulated and agreed to by all interested parties. <br /> <br />, <br />'-:: <br />r <br />~: <br />;: <br />;.: <br />1~ <br /> <br />In Washington July 29-August 1, there were several meetings with <br />staff members of the Colorado and New Mexico Congressional delegations <br />for the purpose of briefings by Dr. Valdez and Ross Bethel about the <br />operation of Navajo Dam as part of a "reasonable and prudent" alternative <br />to the Fish and Wildlife Service Draft Biological Opinion. Some com- <br />mittee staff members were also briefed. <br /> <br />,. <br /> <br />i.-~ <br />" <br /> <br />L( <br /> <br />On August 3, Gene Jencsol< of Colorado Water Conservation Board and <br />1, in Albuquerque, met with Roland Robison, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation <br />Regional Director and Wayne Cool<, Max Stodolsl<i, Bob Williams (biologist) <br />of his staff, and Phil Mutz and Bill Miller of New Mexico. <br /> <br /> <br />.."-'. <br /> <br />Mr. Williams mentioned the Bureau of Reclamation biologists had held <br />two meetings with Fish and Wildlife Service biologists and had examined <br />future depletions of San Juan River water by New Mexico. All of the <br />biOlogists appear to agree with the Draft Biological Opinion of the Fish <br />and Wildlife Service. They believe the jeopardy opinion was correct, and <br />the majority say that the San Juan River is "critical" to the squawfish's <br />survival. Some biologists believe it to be "essential" under the Endangered <br />Species Act. <br /> <br />;,i: <br />~;?o.'f <br />~jt <br />?:-"'~ <br />.~~ ~\ <br />