Laserfiche WebLink
<br />listed species or their designated habitat, If there is an effect, section 7 consulration is <br />required'" , <br /> <br />Anticipating the potential impact of ESA compliance and enfotcement on the Lower Colorado <br />River, the Lower Division States\Tribes Steering Committee (Steering Committee) was formed <br />in October 1993 by entities within Arizona, California, and Nevada who have an interest in this <br />issue, The Steering Committee initiated a Management Program Feasibility Assessment effon <br />and adopted three primary objectives for a future multi-species management programs, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />accommodates current water diversions and power production and optimizes future water <br />and power development opponwlities, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />works toward the conservation of habitat and roward recovery of the species, and <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />reduces the likelihood of additional "threatened/endangered" species listings, <br /> <br />A Feasibility Assessment Advisory Committee (Feasibility Committee) appointed to select a <br />consultant and oversee the development and evaluation of alternative multi-species management <br />program strategies, The results of that assessment are reponed in this document. <br /> <br />II. MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES <br /> <br />As a first step in developing management alternatives for assessment, the Feasibility Committee <br />and the consultant (SWCA; rnc,) decided that several assumptions were valid regarding the ESA <br />and current ESA-related case law, Three of the most important assumptions are as follows: (1) <br />the existing Law of the River is applicable and would not be changed through these alternatives; <br />(2) the ESA will be re-authorized in a way that will not significantly change its influence on <br />Lower Colorado River endangered species issues; and (3), the Service will eventually conclude <br />that take and/or adverse effect to listed species and/or adverse modification of critical habitat <br />is occurring under current operations, Guided by these assumptions and the objectives of the <br /> <br />4 See Appendix D for the complete text of this memorandum from the Regional Director for Region 2 of <br />the Service to the Regional Director of Reclamation, dated September 27, 1994, <br /> <br />, See Appendix F for the "Scoping Committee Outline for Management Program Planning Process," <br />dated May 5, 1994, <br /> <br />FINAL REPORT <br /> <br />December 20, 1994 <br />Page vi <br />