Researches must present and defend flow recommendations that likely will require changing the operation of Navajo Dam, said U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Jim Brooks of Albuquerque. Such a change, bureau officials have said, will trigger preparation of an environmental impact statement. Native fish struggle for many reasons, Brooks said. Water contaminants, further concentrated by lower flows, and unnatural types of river flows probably have negative impacts. Even non-native vegetation, such as Russian olive, crowds banks and prevents river channel erosion and movement.
Braided channels provide shallow nurseries for young natives.
As the numbers of native razorback sucker and squawfish dwindled in their natural habitat, researchers had trouble finding endangered fish to study. Brooks said biologists stocked 100,000 young squawfish in the San Juan in November and plan to stock 150,000 later this year. The program is the joint effort of the bureau, Fish and Wildlife, U.S. Geological Survey, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and contract consultants. The Durango Herald. All rights reserved.