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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />II <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />10 <br /> <br />032532 <br /> <br />"We're excited to be working toward involving all interested parties on the lower Colorado <br />River in a common-ground approach to water and endangered species issues," said Nancy <br />Kaufman, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service's Southwest Region. "Working in <br />partnership will improve endangered species conservation and make it more cost-effective for <br />the taxpayer." <br /> <br />A Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is a tool under Section 10 of the Endangered Species <br />Act in which non-federal partners can balance water resource management with rare species <br />conservation. HCPs typically consider economics, social and recreational interests, and <br />environmental concerns in local or regional areas, allowing non-federal partners to cany out <br />activities that may result in "the incidental take of at least some individuals of a protected <br />species," provided that habitat for the species is conserved in other areas, resulting in a net <br />benefit to the species. <br /> <br />In addition to the cooperative development of the HCP, Reclamation and the Service will, <br />under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, continue to consult infonnally on river <br />operations and their effects on critical habitat and endangered species. This consultation is <br />expected to be completed concurrently with the Service's approval of the HCP. <br /> <br />*** <br /> <br />Appendix A - 3 <br />