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00231:3 . . Extension of the plan completion date will provide the time necessary to both complete the plan and provide a sufficient review and comment period by the permitting agencies, This cxtension also coincides with the termination date for the Biological Opinion on Reclamation's ri ver operations issued by the USFWS on May 15,1997, The Steering Committee gave approval for Ogden Environmental and Energy Resources to hire Mr, Steven W, Caruthers Associates (SWCA) to prepare an initial Habitat Conservation Strategy plan, The initial plan will provide a basis for the NEP AlCEQA alternatives that are being developed and also provide background information for public scoping meetings this coming Spring or early Summer. The subcontract with SWCA will not exceed $150,000 and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2000, As you recall, two 60-day Notices of Intent have been filed by several environmental organizations to sue Secretary Babbitt and several other Federal Agencies, The first notice alleges that Reclamation failed to consult with the USFWS regarding the environmental effects on the Virgin River southwestern willow flycatcher population due to the operation of Hoover Dam, and the second notice alleges that the Federal Governments' operation of the Lower Colorado River violates the ESA including the need for additional water delivery to the Colorado River Delta in Mexico, Mr, Zimmerman, counsel from the Attorney General's office, and counsel from the various Six Agencies have met twice via conference call, to consider the notices, Even though suits have not yet been filed, nor have the Federal Agencies responded to the notices, California believes that the need exists to be prepared if suits are filed, Several "White papers" will be developed to provide background on the issues of concern and help develop recommendations as to how we will respond if or when the suits are filed, The issues include river operation, Reclamation's discretion, indirect effects, the LCR MSCP, and instream flows that reach the Delta in Mexico, Included in the Board folder is a copy of a public notice from the U,S, Army Corps of Engineers regarding re-issuance ofa Regional General Permit for backwater restoration along the Lower Colorado River from Davis Dam to the Southerly International Boundary, All backwater restoration is done under this permit Projects are for restoration and maintenance of existing backwaters for fish and wildlife habitat improvement purposes, All projects are required to be approved by the backwater subcommittee of the LCR Work Group and by the LCR MSCP, when the MSCP is completed, WESTERN WATER PLANNING Glen Canvon Adaotive Management The Glen Canyon Adaptive Management Work Group (AMWG) met in Phoenix, Arizona, on January 20 and 21, 2000, The mission statement and goals statement for the ro ram are basically complcte, The next step is to revise the Management ~ectlves to make them consistent with the goals ~ogram, An ad hoc committee has been formed for this purpose, Mr, Worthley will work with the process and economics committee, The Management Objectives will be considered at the April 4-5 AMWG meeting, 5