9398

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9398
• Author: SWCA, I.
• Title: Feasibility Assessment for a Multi-Species Management Program, Lower Colorado River.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City.
• Copyright Material: NO

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In order to assess the feasibility of the nine management alternatives, evaluation criteria had to
be developed. As a first step in this process, the Feasibility Committee, working with SWCA,
Inc., agreed that a management alternative should:

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accommodate current operations and optimize future operational flexibility,

.

attain a level of certainty regarding ESA compliance to provide stable assumptions for

future planning,

.

minimize impacts of jeopardy and/or adverse effect findings by the Service on Lower

Colorado River projects and/or operations, and

.

implement a cost-effective program.

The criteria that were developed from these goals address the issues of predictability; cost;
degree of confidence in the process; operational flexibility; and the presence of a comprehensive,
coordinated conservation strategy. The specific criteria are listed below and explained in detail
in Chapter IV of the Feasibility Assessment.

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Degree of long-term planning certainty provided.

.

Ability to develop the alternative.

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Ability to achieve prelisting agreements.

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Effectiveness in avoiding or resolving findings of adverse modification of critical habitat
and/or jeopardy opinions.

.

Ability to obtain incidental take authorization.

.

Ability to coordinate actions or reduce the need for actions by other parties that are

detrimental to Participants' projects.

FINAL REPORT

December 20, 1994
Page 7