WSPC12661

• File Number: 8282.300
• Description: Colorado River Operations and Accounting - Lower Basin Administrative Procedures
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 5/16/1997
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: FWS Final Biological and Conference Opinion on Lower Colorado River Operations and Maintenance - Lake Mead to Southerly International Border - Draft for Review - 05-16-97
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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OJ2953

BIOLOGICAL OPINION

Consultation History

BIOLOGICAL AND CONFERENCE OPINION

CONSULTATION mSTORY

On February 6, 1995, Service personnel met with Reclamation personnel at Boulder City, Nevada,
to discuss development of a BA for operations and maintenance of the lower Colorado River. This
began an informal consultation process. The target was to have a Final BA in November of 1995.
In August of 1995 accelerated efforts of the Lower Colorado Multi-Species Conservation Program
(MSCP), and a strategy to unite the section 7 consultation process and the section 10 processes of
the ESA into one plan for the entire area, caused a slowing of the informal consultation process.
Because of public uncertainty about the MSCP process, Reclamation continued preparation of the
BA and published a public review draft in March, 1996, the same month that the two agencies
executed a consultation agreement. The agreement set the stage for Reclamation's public review
process for both the BA draft and the Biological Opinion (BO). The fmal BA was completed in
August, 1996. The following chronology describes the remainder of the consultation history.

September 5, 1996 Memorandum from Reclamation with 1986 maps and mapping methods and
vegetation changes along the lower Colorado River (LCR), Summary of
1996 Southwestern willow flycatcher surveys, Colorado River front work
and levee system maps, and disc with BA text.

September 6, 1996 Meeting on BA and BO information needs.

September 25, 1996 Memorandum from Reclamation with title sheet and index for Colorado
River front work and levee system, annual operating plan for 1996, and final
report on Colorado River Floodway Protection Act, and Colorado River
Floodway maps.

September 25, 1996 Meeting on BA and BO information needs.

October 4, 1996

Memorandum from the Arizona Ecological Services Field Office
acknowledged receipt of Reclamation's formal consultation and conference
request. The memorandum acknowledged that sufficient information was
available to initiate formal consultation/conference and documented changes
to Reclamation's effect determinations for the flat-tailed horned lizard and
bald eagle. The memorandum also requested supplemental information and
clarification on several items pertaining to southwestern willow flycatchers
and Lake Mead.

October 16, 1996

Meeting on BA and BO information needs, discussion of possible jeopardy

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