Request for Formal Consultation Process

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? O ? _!+? ._-..._ ? . . ?. ? . ._....... M4qCN 3. 16 !N REPLY REFER TO: CP-4200 EN'V-7.00 United States Department oj' the Interior ..... pT? ?? r-?tr_.?. . . .. .. . .. _.____...__-.-'"__.."_'_.._.... Greac Plains Rcgion P.O. Dox 36900 Eillinga, 2vloncana 59107-6900 JUL 0 6 200¢ iV1EMORANDUM To From Regional Directar, Fish and Wildlife Service, Mountain-Prairie Region ?-- Regional Director, Buxeau of Reclaination, Great Plains Ecological Services Program Supervisor (S), Fish and Wildlife Se r"vi? Mountain-Prairie Region ti;.; Subjzct: Request to iniiiate rormal C,onsuitaiion tor the Yroposecl Plafte River Recovery Implementation Program and Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife Service w'ater-Related Activities The Bureau of Reclamation and Fish and Wildlife Service request formal consultation under section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the followina proposed Federal action: The proposed participation of the Department of the Interior, throuQh Reclamation and the Service, in funding and implementing a Recovery Implementatian ProQram to improve and maintain habitat for the whooping crane, interior least tern, piping plover, and pallid sturaeon (the taraet species). The first increment spans a period of 13 years beginning with the completion of a final biological opinion (BO), a record of decision, and a signed Pro2xam Ageement between Interior and the States of Colorado; Nebraska, and Wyoming. • The continuin? operation of existing and certain ne?v Federal water-related activiriesl including, but not limited to, Reclamation and Service projects that are (or may become) 1 The term "water-related activities" means activities and aspects of activities which (1) occur in the Platte River Basin upstream of the confluence of the Loup River with the Platte River; and (2) may affect Platte River flow quantity or timing, including, but not lixnited to, water diversion, storaQe and use activities, and land use activities. Changes in temperature and sediment transport will be considered impacts of a"water-related activity" to the extent that such changes are caused by activities affectin- flow quantity or timing. Impacts of "water-related activiiies" do not include those components of land use activities or discharges of pollutants that do not affect flow quantity or timing. "Existing water-related activiiies" include surface water or hydroloo-ically connected aroundwater activities impiemented on or before Julv l; 1991. "New water-related activities" include new surfaee water or hydrologically connected groundwater activities including both new projects and