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peer review, evaluating Program effectiveness, and reviewing and adjusting Program goals and <br />objectives. <br />The attached DEIS describes the proposed Program and ass.esses the benefits and impacts of <br />proposed GG Alternative scenarios and other alternatives. Scenarios have been developed for the <br />GC Alternative because a number of important management decisions may not be made until the <br />Program is implemented. Two scenarios were developed to bound the range of reasonably-likely <br />outcomes that could result from implementing this alternative. The two scenarios presented <br />likely bound the scope and scale of actions that would be undertaken for this alternative and also <br />likely indicate the range of environmental effects that would result as determined by such factors <br />as the location of Program lands, the extent of habitat restoration, and the ability of the Program <br />to deliver water to the habitat. . <br />The DEIS devotes considerable attention to the effects of the alternatives on target species, <br />designated critical habitats, and other essential habitat for target species in and along the Central <br />and Lower Platte River. The uE1S provicies anaiyses of tne proposed vi. Aiiernative scenarios <br />to assist the Service in developing a draft B0. The DEIS has been provided to the Service and <br />serves as the biological assessment (BA) for the proposed Federal action. <br />Reclamation and the Service recognize that additional site-specific consultations will be required <br />as the proposed Prob am is implemented. Assuming that an ESA-sufficient Program is adopted, <br />it is our intent that the followin? process will apply to future consultations on Reclamation and <br />Service water-relafed and other activities in the Platte River basin. <br />Reclamation and the Service will each review their activities in the Platte River basin not <br />covered by this consultation and consult on those that may affect listed or proposed <br />species or adversely modify designated or proposed critical habitat. <br />In future consultations for water-related activities where target species and/or their <br />designated critical habitats in the Central and Lower Platte River may be affected or <br />adversely modified, so long as those activities are conducted consistent with the Progam, <br />Reclamation and the Service intend to rely upon the Program to provide needed ESA <br />compliance during the first increment (as defined earlier in this memorandum). In other <br />words, it is expected that the Program will provide offsetting or conservation measures to <br />avoid the likelihood of jeopardy findings for the tar-et species in the Central and Lower <br />Platte River during future consultations. <br />Information Requested Through This Consultation <br />Reclamation and the Service recngnize that any consultation under section 7(a)(2) must address <br />the direct,, indirect, and cumulative effects of the proposed Federal action and the effects of other <br />activities that are interrelated or interdependent with that action. In this particular case, the <br />proposed Federal action is Interior's participation in fundinc, and implementing the first