WSP12637

• File Number: 8282.300
• Description: Colorado River Operations and Accounting - Lower Basin Administrative Procedures
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 8/1/1996
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Description and Assessment of Operations-Maintenance and Sensitive Species of the Lower Colorado River - Volume I - Report - 08-01-96
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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002319

"Cumulative effects are those effects of future State or private activities, not involving
Federal activities, that are reasonably certain to occur within the action area of the Federal
action subject to consultation." As part of the public review of the March 1996 draft of this
document, reviewers were requested to provide information regarding future and reasonably
certain to occur non-Federal activities for inclusion in the final of this BA. Notification of
specific actions was not received as part of the public review process. Reclamation has
attempted to identify potentially contemporaneous and future cumulative actions in Section III
and, to the greatest extent practicable, has provided cumulative effect discussions for each
ESA-listed species discussed in Section IV of this document. The diversion and distribution
of entitlement waters in the United States is discussed in Section III as contemporaneous and
future cumulative actions.

The FWS Draft Endangered Species Consultation Handbook (November 1994) defines
"Direct Effects" as encompassing the direct or immediate effect of the project on the species
or its habitat. Additionally the handbook states "Direct effects result from the agency action
including the effects of interrelated actions and interdependent actions." Direct effects are
discussed for each ESA-protected species in Section IV.

e. Relevant Reports: "Relevant reports, including any environmental
impact statement, environmental assessment, or biological assessment
prepared. ... "

Based on comments provided via written reviews of the March 1996 draft of this document,
additional relevant reports have been cited in this document. FWS has been provided copies
of all written public comments on the draft BA. Additionally, FWS is aware of its recovery
plans and FR notices of proposed and final notices of listings and critical habitat designations
for the species and critical habitats included in this BA and previous formal section 7
consultations.

f. Other Relevant Reports: "Any other relevant available
information on the action, the affected listed species, or critical
habitat. "

Reclamation will also provide sets of maps depicting the most recent (1994) vegetation
classification and front work and levee system features for FWS reference.

3. Public Process and Consultation Schedule

Due to the considerable interest that a variety of stakeholders have shown in this section 7
consultation on lower Colorado River operations, Reclamation has committed to making the
consultation process with FWS fully public. Normally, such section 7 consultations are
conducted only between the action agency and FWS. The final biological opinion from FWS
on this consultation is scheduled for April 15, 1997. A Consultation Agreement, which
outlines a schedule of events and provides for public involvement, was signed on
March 29, 1996, by representatives of Reclamation and FWS; a copy of that Agreement is

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