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<br />002315
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<br />c. Species and Critical Habitat Description: "A description of any
<br />listed species or critical habitat that may be affected by the action."
<br />
<br />In response to Reclamation's request for a species list, FWS, via fax transmission dated
<br />February 24, 1995, provided a list of potentially occurring species in Reclamation's
<br />operational area: 7 endangered species, 1 proposed endangered species, and 27 candidate
<br />species. Since the receipt of this list, the southwestern willow flycatcher was listed as
<br />endangered on March 29, 1995 (FR, Vol. 60, No. 38, February 27, 1995), and the
<br />bald eagle was down listed from endangered to threatened (FR, Vol. 60, No. 133,
<br />July 12, 1995). Also, Reclamation was advised on June 13, 1995, that the California black
<br />rail was a candidate species (Ted Cordery, pers. comm.). At an August 17, 1995, meeting
<br />of the species conservation plan work group (now MSCP), which included representatives of
<br />FWS, Reclamation discussed 1) that its species list had expanded to include the threatened
<br />Mohave population of the desert tortoise, four additional candidate species, and one species
<br />of concern to California, as well as, the designated critical habitat for the razorback sucker
<br />and bOl1lytail, and 2) that it needed additional time to complete its baseline description of
<br />operations, maintenance, resources, and to conduct the effect analysis.
<br />
<br />In responding to Reclamation's memorandums dated December 26, 1995, and February 15,
<br />1996, FWS memorandum dated March 19, 1996, concluded that "The Service does not have
<br />any additions to the list of threatened or endangered species contained in the document
<br />[Description of Operations...December 1995] for the United States portion of the
<br />Colorado River." However, in its memorandum FWS identified three Mexico species (desert
<br />pupfish, Vaquita or Gulf of California [Gult] harbor porpoise, and totoaba) that".. . should be
<br />included in the list of species for the consultation." Additionally, the FWS memorandum
<br />notified Reclamation that none of the sensitive species (32 former category 1 or 2 species)
<br />are among the FWS February 28, 1996, Notice of Review for species regarded as candidates
<br />for possible listing as endangered and threatened wildlife and plants under the ESA. As part
<br />of the public review process, Reclamation has also been requested to address the flat-tailed
<br />homed lizard, a species that has been proposed for listing as threatened. Consequently, this
<br />document addresses the potential effects of the "action" on 7 endangered species,
<br />2 threatened species, 1 proposed threatened species, and 32 sensitive species in the
<br />United States. Three endangered species in Mexico are also discussed; one of which, the
<br />endangered desert pupfish, is also discussed under cumulative effects in the United States.
<br />These species are listed in Table 2 and are discussed in Section IV of this document.
<br />
<br />Due to its range being outside the potential influence of the actions being addressed in this
<br />BA, the Hualapai southern pocket gopher has not been included in this final document.
<br />Also, during the public review of the draft BA, Reclamation received suggestions for the
<br />inclusion of additional species. With the limited time to complete this document and the lack
<br />of official ESA protection for these additional species, Reclamation was unable to include
<br />such species as suggested.
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