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Navajo Lake releases dilute wastewater

Water managers doubled the release at Navajo Lake to help dilute heavy metals in the San Juan River.

The Bureau of Reclamation, in cooperation with the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Project, opened the spigots to help protect endangered species in the river, said Justyn Hock, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Reclamation.

“While diluting contaminants or pollutants is not an ideal solution, it is an immediate step public officials can take in order to reduce the likelihood the metals in the water will adversely effect people or wildlife,” said Bob Findling, director of Land Protection and Stewardship at New Mexico Office of The Nature Conservancy.

The Nature Conservancy is a partner in the recovery project.

The Bureau of Reclamation increase doubled the flow from 650 to 1,300 cubic feet per second from Friday through Monday.

Navajo Lake had extra unallocated water thanks to above-average moisture this spring and summer.

A similar release from Lake Nighthorse to further dilute heavy metals is unlikely because all the water is allocated, Hock said.

The water shareholders in Lake Nighthorse would need to be involved in a decision to release water.

Water managers stopped pumping water into the lake in mid-June because it was full, she said.

mshinn@durangoherald.com



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