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<br /> <br /> <br />lJJ2~83 <br /> <br />Summary <br /> <br />Water is an important Colorado Ute Indian Tribal trust asset (Southern Ute and Ute <br />Mountain Ute Tribes). The Settlement Act, ratified by Congress, calls for Project water to <br />be used to satisfy Colorado Ute water rights. The Proposed Plan would allow this <br />development, as envisioned by the Settlement Act. <br /> <br />The Jicarilla Apache Tribe would receive no water from the Project. The location and <br />water sources of the Jicarilla Apache Tribe make it unlikely that there would be any <br />impacts to the Jicarilla Apache Tribe from the Project. <br /> <br />The Nation is to receive 7,600 acre-feet of water for M&I purposes from the Project. The <br />Nation is concerned that the Project could adversely impact their water supply and <br />. development, water quality, and water management by reducing the amount of water <br />available in the San Juan River Basin for their development and use. <br /> <br />!,~:. Environmental Measures and Mitigation <br /> <br />Reclamation proposes an extensive mitigation plan that includes clarifications, revisions, <br />. and additions to environmental considerations and commitments incorporated into the <br />proposed action since 1980. An Environmental Commitment Plan (ECP) applicable to <br />.~; each feature would be developed prior to construction. The ECP is a document used by <br />'{ Reclamation to summarize environmental commitments for consrrucl,ion and operation <br />..'. and maintenance activities. The mitigation measures would be implemented in one or <br />,. . more of three ways: by Reclamation through incorporation into construction contracts; <br />:::.' through separate contracts by Reclamation or other entities; or through Reclamation or <br />: other agency personnel. <br />~, - <br />~Reclamation would either acquire or monetarily compensate the Colorado Division of <br />.,;' Wildlife for the Bodo State Wildlife Area (about 7,000 acres) and would help locate a <br />~:" replacement area. In addition, in cooperation with the appropriate resource agencies, <br />^ there would be a Bald Eagle Management Plan; an elk mitigation plan; bypass flows for <br />wetland/riparian vegetation and the downstream ecosystem; establishment of trout <br />fisheries and angler access; native fish analyses, monitoring, and instream flows; and <br />other significant measures. As noted, Reclamation is also committed to implementation <br />of a RPA to avoid jeopardy to the continued existence of endangered fish, as contained in <br />the 1991 and 1996 Biological Opinions. Chapter IV of this FSFES contains more details on <br />environmental measures. <br /> <br />PUBLIC INPUT TO THE FINAL SUPPLEMENT <br /> <br />On April 29, 1992, Reclamation published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a draft <br />supplement to the 1980 FES in the Federal Register. At the same time, Reclamation mailed <br />the NOI to interested individuals, organizations, and agencies and asked for their <br />comments on the environmental issues that should be addressed in the DSFES. <br />Reclamation received approximately 100 written responses to the NO!. The DSFES was <br />prepared and filed with ErA on October 13, 1992, and a Notice of Availability was <br />published in the Federal Register at the same time. A public review and comment period <br />was conducted from October 13, 1992, to December 15, 1992. One hundred and four <br /> <br />5-11 <br />