9326

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9326
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Draft Biological Opinion for Ute Water/Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project, Mesa County, Colorado.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver.
• Copyright Material: NO

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!N REPLY REFER TO:
United- ~~tates Department of the Interior
FISH AND WII.DLIFE SERVICE
Mountain-Prairie Region
ES/BLM
GJ-6-CO-94-F-010
CO/KS/NE/UT
Memorandum
MAII.ING ADDRESS:
Post Office Box 25486
Denver Federal Center
STREET LOCATION:
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134 Union Blvd. _ v~C
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Denver, Colorado 80225-0486 '~ ~~ ,~ (~,V~~
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To: Area Mana er, Bureau of Land Mana ement, Grand Junction, Colorado s a~
From: ,: .~:'"~`~ Regional Director, Region 6 ~N~,,,
Subject: Draft Biological Opinion for Ute Water/Plateau Creek Pipeline~3~Y~ ~~~'~.
Replacement Project, Mesa County, Colorado ~~
In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Interagency Cooperation Regulations
(50 CFR 402), this transmits the Fish and Wildlife Service's draft biological
opinion for impacts to federally listed endangered species for the Ute
Water/Plateau Creek Pipeline Replacement Project. This opinion is provided to
you as the lead Federal Agency regarding section 7 consultation on this
project. Copies of this opinion should be provided to the applicant because
the Service has incorporated reasonable and prudent alternatives that should
be included as conditions of any permits issued by the Bureau of Land
Management for this Project.
This biological opinion has been prepared in response to the Bureau's '
July 1, 1996, Biological Assessment for the Replacement of the Plateau Creek
Pipeline (Bureau of Land Management 1996). The Bureau concluded that the
Project would not affect the Uinta Basin hookless cactus (Sclerocactus
lg aucus) and peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), that the Project may affect
but is not likely to adversely affect the bald eagle (Haliaeetus
leucoce~halus) and southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii `~ o
extimus), and that the Project may adversely affect the Colorado squawfrsh
(Ptvchocheilus Lucius), humpback chub (Gila c ha), bonytail (Gila el~ans), ~~~
razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus), and Their critical habitat. The-Servi~,~:= r~:
concurs with the Bureau's conclusions for these species. Q, ~ ?;;;
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BIOLOGICAL OPINION _
Based upon the best scientific and commercial information that is currently `~~'"~
available, it is the Service's biological opinion that the proposed p ect,
as described below, is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of 'the
Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail, and razorback sucker and result
in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. The
Service has developed a reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid the
likelihood of jeopardy to the endangered fishes and to avoid destruction or
adverse modification of their critical habitat.