2011-05-12_PERMIT FILE - M2011028 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: M2011028
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 5/12/2011
• Doc Name: New 112c application part 2 exhibit H thru exhibit L
• From: Weeminuche Construction Authority
• To: DRMS
• Email Name: KAP
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

3.1.3 Proximity to Project Area
Colorado pikeminnow are currently found outside of the project area, in the San Juan River. Basin Creek
(drains Ridges Basin) enters the Animas River approximately 45 river miles upstream from the
confluence with the San Juan River at Farmington, NM. The confluence of the Animas River is located at
approximately RM 181 on the San Juan River (i.e., distance upstream from Piute Farms Marina, Lake
Powell). The upstream most distribution of Colorado pikeminnow in the San Juan River is the Hogback
Diversion at RM 158.6. The Hogback Diversion has now been rebuilt, however, and includes a fish
ladder, so this may change in the future.
Hence, the distance from the pipeline relocation project in Basin Creek to presently occupied habitat of
Colorado pikeminnow is about 67 river miles (45 miles of the Animas River plus 22.4 miles of the San
Juan River).
The upper end of critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow is SR 371 Bridge about 0.5 miles downstream
of the confluence of the Animas River, near Farmington (RM 180). Hence, the distance from Basin
Creek to designated critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow is about 45 miles.
3.2 Razorback Sucker
3.2.1 Status and Critical Habitat
The razorback sucker is a large catostomid fish endemic to the Colorado River Basin (Minckley et al.
1991). The species was once distributed throughout the major rivers and tributaries of the basin in
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, and California (Jordan 1891; Minckley et al.
1991). Adults attain a maximum size of about 1 m TL and weigh 5 to 6 kg (Minckley 1973). Life history
of the razorback sucker is presented by Minckley et al. (1991).
The razorback sucker is currently listed as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. seq.). It was listed as endangered under a final rule published on
October 23, 1991 (56 FR 54957). A recovery plan was approved on December 23, 1998 (FWS 1998),
and critical habitat was designated on March 21, 1994 (59 FR 13374).
A total of 1,724 miles (2,776 km) of critical habitat have been designated for the razorback sucker in the
Colorado River Basin. Designated critical habitat includes the following reaches of river, including the
100-year flood plain:
• Yampa River from mouth of Cross Mountain Canyon downstream to confluence with
Green River.
• Green River from confluence with Yampa River downstream to confluence with
Colorado River.
• White River from the boundary of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation downstream
to confluence with Green River.
• Duchesne River from river 2.5 downstream to confluence with Green River.
• Gunnison River from confluence with Uncompahgre River (near Delta, Colorado)
downstream to Redlands Diversion Dam (near Grand Junction, Colorado).
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