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..._.._...._ _.. ..__...._. . . _..- - -- _ _ _ . .___ . _._.. _ __... .._ .., <br />constituent elements for the mouse include a pattern of dense riparian vegetation consisting of <br />grasses forbs, and shrubs in areas along nvers and streams that provide open water through the <br />mouse's active season; adjacent floodplains and vegetated uplands with limited human <br />disturbance; areas providing connectivity between and within populations; and dynamic <br />geomorphological and hydrological processes typical of the systems within the mouse's range. <br />Determinations of Effect <br />Rec.lamation and the Service have heep wnrking together since 1997 to develop and analvze the <br />proposed Program. As joint leads for National Environmental Policy Act compliance, <br />Reclamation and the Service have devoted considerable time and expertise in determining how <br />the proposed Program and other alternatives would affect listed and candidate species; designated <br />critical habitat, habitat elements, and other important environmental parameters. Based on the <br />analysis contained in the DEIS and consistent with guidance provided at 50 CFR 402.12, <br />Reclamation ana Service starf assigned to the DEIS interdiscipiinary team have deiermined <br />Program effects on a111isted species potentially affected by water-related activities associated <br />with the Program as documented on pages 5-157 and 5-158 of the DEIS. <br />Potential effects for some listed species found outside the Central and Lower Platte River are <br />undetermined at this time because all altematives, through land management and water leasing <br />activities, have potential to affect lands or stream flows in areas occupied by one or more listed <br />species. Such activities include land habitat restoration in Nebraska andlor water leasing, in the <br />States. Because of the wide distribution of these species and the uncertainty regarding the <br />specific location of habitat restoration and water action plan projects (including water leasing), <br />the potential for site-specific impacts to listed species other than target species, their habitats, and <br />designated critical habitat within the action area will not be known until a Program is adopted <br />and specific land and water actions are proposed. <br />The DEIS (Environmental Comznitments section) noies ihat these potential effects that are <br />associated with water leasing or habitat management could be addressed and potentially <br />eliminated through site-specific, pre-leasing and planning reviews if such reviews were <br />incorporated into these scenarios and made a standard implemeritation practice. In all cases, the <br />Program can choose where to locate such actions. Because of the substantial involvement of <br />Interior in funding and implementing the Program, Program-relate.d activities will be treated as <br />having a Federal "nexus." That is, the Program will evaluate the potential impact of specific <br />Program activities on other listed species when Program activities are proposed and prior to <br />implementation. The Program will take appropriate actions if, and when, adverse effects to other <br />listed species and/or designated critical habitats are identified. Any adverse effects will be <br />a.voiilcd ot' offSet based ori cnrisultatiorl witb the Sorvicc. TTpot] il.is4iis.sii>ti with llie Scrvice's <br />Wyoming Field Office, we realize that the DEIS does not contain language that ensures <br />protection of the Wyomina toad, a species with a severely restricted range in danger of <br />extinction. Therefore, we propose to include a measure in the FEIS that siipulates we would not