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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~...-,p;,... UJ"JiD United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Lower Colorado Regional Office P.O. Box 61470 Boulder City. NV 89006-1470 RECEIVED JUN Z 0 1997 IN REPLY REFER TO, LC-2000 ENV-7.00 Colorado Water Conservation Board MAY 1 6 1997 To: All Interested Parties From: Laura Herbranson, Director Resource Management and Technical Services Subject: Fish and Wildlife Service Final Biological and Conference Opinion on Lower Colorado River Operations and Maintenance - Lake Mead to Southerly International Boundary Please find the subject document enclosed for your review and comment. Issuance of a final Biological Opinion (BO) and its acceptance by Reclamation allows for the immediate implementation of the provisions of the Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA) and Reasonable and Prudent Measures (RPMs) for the southwestern willow flycatcher, razorback sucker, and bony tail chub. Written comments on the BO should be directed to Reclamation at the above address within the 45 day comment period (by July 11, 1997). Reclamation will consider comments pertaining to any errors of fact in the biological data or the proposed action and whether the provisions of the RPA or the RPMs: (1) avoid the likelihood of jeopardy or adverse modification of critical habitat or reduce incidental take, (2) can be implemented in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the action, (3) can be implemented in a manner consistent with the scope of the agency's legal authority and jurisdiction, and (4) are economically and technologically feasible. Reclamation will review comments on the BO and decide which constitute new or significant information. It will be Reclamation's responsibility to decide if the comments are relevant to the consultation, in terms of the action, findings, and recommendations in the BO, and whether to forward to Fish and Wildlife Service any amendments to the proposed action or requests for changes in RPAs or RPMs. Reclamation will respond to letters of comment received on the BO. In addition, Reclamation will develop a report that catalogs all comments received from the public for use in the Lower Colorado River Multi- Species Conservation Program scoping process for consideration in long-term plan development. As part of the 45-day public comment period and to help ensure your understanding of the BO, Reclamation invites all interested parties to attend