NMWF at work
Consensus developing around San Juan River concerns
The San Juan River in northwest New Mexico amazes most first-time anglers with its trophy-size trout and scenic beauty. But some veteran San Juan fly-fishermen have been ringing alarm bells about their beloved river. They say it has suffered from reduced stream flows out of Navajo Dam since about 2002, and that a thick layer of silt has built up on the river bottom that jeopardizes the fishery. They say action is needed soon to protect and preserve the San Juan. In response, Department staff launched an effort to survey San Juan anglers and guides this spring.
The survey results provided to the State Game Commission in Farmington in mid-April suggest that most fishermen believe the river is still a great fishery, but that the river is changing and that many say sediment is a concern. Groups such as New Mexico Trout, the San Juan River Guides Association and the San Juan Fly Fishing Federation all said the river has changed and that sediment is high on their list of concerns. (Click here to see the roundup of public comments presented by the department.)
What to do next, however, remains the big question. Possible fixes listed by the department include habitat projects to reduce sedimentation, create in-river structures to improve scouring or consolidate river braids, improve the river bottom with additional cobblestone and work with Navajo Dam authorities to increase the river flow. Game Commission members took no action at the Farmington meeting, but $240,000 is available in capital spending for the San Juan. Gov. Bill Richardson included the money in the current budget to help improve the trout fishery.
But a consistent call from San Juan fishermen has been for a more comprehensive analysis of threats facing the fishery to ensure that future projects and efforts have maximum effect. The most vocal advocates for a thorough study say the San Juan Basin has been affected in recent years by intense oil and gas development. New wells and roads are suspected of causing additional erosion and sedimentation, yet almost no substantive studies have been done. One study was conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, but its author agreed that it had flaws. To get a true picture of sedimentation in the area, she said, "I’d want to start all over again." (Click here to read the 2006 sedimentation study.)
Some fishermen have also suggested the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation could improve the flow rate out of Navajo Dam without harming downstream users or endangered species.