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Streamlined consultation is made possible by a programmatic biological opinion dated <br />June 16, 2006, which determined that the Program, including the continuation of existing <br />and certain new water-related activities in the Platte River basin, is not likely to <br />jeopardize the continued existence of the four target species.5 Therefore, when an <br />individual project is `covered by the Program', this means its effects are considered <br />already addressed under this biological opinion (BO), including likely actions and effects <br />addressed by the Final Environmental Impact Statement6 . The often labarious process of <br />developing a stand-alone BO addressing the incremental effects associated with an <br />individual project can be replaced, under this Program, by a much simpler boilerplate <br />`tiered BO' confirming that the relevant water uses are covered. <br />ects in the South Platte River basin <br />For non-federal projects in the South Platte River basin of Colorado, the project <br />proponent, working with the lead federal agency in the consultation process, needs to <br />take these steps to be `covered by the Program':' <br />(1) Provide a biological assessment (BA) to the lead federal agency. For the <br />downstream Platte target species, a two-page "Template Biological Assessment <br />and Request far Formal Section 7 Consultation" is available which is intended to <br />standardize and simplify this process (Attachment A.) Note that under this <br />approach there is no requirement to quantify `existing' and `new' depletions <br />associated with the project (historically, this has often been a labor-intensive <br />step). However, there is a need to describe the water sources and wccter uses <br />associated with the action. (Questions regarding the appropriate project-specific <br />infonnation may be directed to USFWS or to the lead federal agency.) <br />(2) Sign a Platte Recovery Agreement (Attachment B). Note that one stipulation of <br />this Agreement is: <br />"To the extent implementing the Program requires active cooperation by <br />Water User, including membership in the South Platte Water Related <br />Activities Program, Inc. (SPWRAP), Water User agrees to fulfill those <br />responsibilities required of Program participants in Colorado." <br />SPWRAP is a nonprofit corporation formed to assist the State of Colorado in <br />complying with its obligations under the Program Agreement for projects in the <br />South Platte River basin (Attachment C- a brief summary sheet describing <br />SPWRAP). Funds provided from water users and SPWRAP members help <br />support Colorado's participation in the Program. Questions about SPWRAP <br />5 The complete Biological Opinion is available on [Web Page]. <br />6 The Final EIS for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program was published in May 2006, and <br />may be accessed at [Web site]. <br />' These steps are more thoroughly spelled out in Coloi•ado's Plan for Future Depletions (the "Colorado <br />Plan"), which is available at [Web site].