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? Increasing the achievement of Fish and Wildlife Service target flows for the species <br />by roughly 130,000-150,000 acre-feet on an average annual basis, primarily by <br />increasing river flows in the spring, summer, and early fall. <br />? Leasing or acquiring land habitat in the Central Platte Habitat Area from willing <br />sellers and restoring habitat. Habitat restoration focuses primarily on restoration of <br />wet meadow areas and areas of wide unvegetated river channel. <br />Regional Director Ryan said, "I firmly believe that this collaborative, basin-wide ap:proach to <br />resolving the endangered species issues is the best way to provide for the needs of tYie species <br />and ensure that the current use of water can continue. Trying to address ESA requirements <br />separately for each of the hundreds of Federal and private water projects in the Platte River Basin <br />would be vastly more expensive for water users and almost certainly less effective for the <br />species." <br />The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a biological opinion on the preferreci alternative <br />to determine if it provides for the long-term conservation of the target species as required under <br />the Endangered Species Act. This is expected to be released in early June 2006. <br />The FEIS will be posted on the Platte River website on May 23, 2006, at: <br />http//www.platteriver.org. The Notice of Availability for the FEIS is expected to appear in the <br />Federal Register May 24, 2006. <br />### <br />Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of <br />hydroelectric power in the United States, with operations.and facilities in the 17 Western States. <br />Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit <br />our website at http://www.usbr.gov. <br />2