Laserfiche WebLink
2 <br />Arizona-Nevada border. Much smaller populations live in lakes Havasu and Mead <br />(Minckley 1983), and scattered individuals are occasionally encountered in <br />downstream river reaches and confluent canals (Marsh and Minckley 1989). <br />The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and other entities operate a series of dams, <br />control structures, and water intakes or diversions along the lower river (in part, USBR <br />1996). High dams and their impoundments are Hoover (Boulder Dam, Lake Mead), <br />Davis (Mohave), and Parker (Havasu), and other structures are Headgate Rock, Palo <br />Verde, and Imperial diversion dams, and Laguna Dam (Water and Power Resources <br />Service [WPRS] 1980a). Major water withdrawals from the river include Southern <br />Nevada Water Authority (Las Vegas Valley), Metropolitan Water District (Los Angeles), <br />Central Arizona Project (Granite Reef Aqueduct), Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) <br />Canal, and All American Canal (Imperial and Coachella valleys; in part, WPRS 1980b). <br />As part of a formal consultation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in <br />accordance with provisions of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (as amended), <br />USBR completed a biological assessment of impacts associated with its operation of <br />the lower river (USBR 1996). In response, USFWS issued a Biological Opinion <br />(Opinion), which determined, in part, that operation of the river jeopardized continued <br />existence of two endangered fishes, bonytail and razorback sucker (USFWS 1997). <br />The USFWS Opinion included a suite of Reasonable and Prudent Alternatives (RPAs) <br />and Measures (RPMs), implementation or completion of which would have the effect of <br />removing jeopardy. One of these RPAs addressed research funding, as follows (in <br />part): <br />"RPA #4. Research Funding. Reclamation will provide funds for research into <br />habitat use and habitat preferences of native and non-native fish in the river with <br />the goal of managing to reduce conflicts detrimental to native fish caused by the <br />presence of non-native fish."