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40 serve as a reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid jeopardy. The RIP RAP was finalized on October 15. 1993, and has been reviewed and updated annually. In accordance witi~ the agreement, the Service assesses the impacts of project that require section 7 consultation and determines if progress toward recovery has been sufficient for the RIP to serve as a reasonable and prudent ~. alternative. If sufficient progress is being achieved, biological opinions are written to identify activities and accomplishments of the RIP that support it as a reasonable and prudent alternative. If sufficient progress towards the recovery of the endangered fishes has not been achieved by the RIP, actions from the RIP RAP are identified which must be completed to avoid jeopardy to the fishes. For historic projects, these actions serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative as long as they are completed according to the schedule identified in the IZIP RAP. For new projects, these actions serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative as long as they are completed before the impact of the project occurs. In determining if sufficient progress has been achieved, the Service considers (a) actions which result in a measurable population response, a measurable improvement in habitat for the fishes, legal protection of flows needed foi~ recovery, or a reduction in the threat of immediate extinction; (b) status of fish populations; (c) adequacy of flows; and (d) magnitude of the project impact. In addition, the Service considers support activities (funding, research, information, and education,- etc.) of the RIP if they help achieve a measurable population response, a measurable improvement in habitat for the fishes, legal protection of flows needed for recovery, or a reduction in the threat of immediate extinction. The Service evaluates progress separately for the .Colorado River and the Green River sub-basins; however, it gives due consideration to progress throughout the Upper Basin in evaluating progress towards recovery. This basin wide consultation examines both historic and ne~/Federal;projects, as well as existing State and private projects totaling 5'8,000 acre-feet of depletions to the Duchesne and Green rivers. The Service has determined that, as of this date, the RIP has made sufficient progress towards recovery of the fishes to serve as the reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid jeopardy, for projects with an average annual depletion of < 3.000 acre-feet. The purpose of these reasonable and prudent alternative elements is to avoid jeopardy to listed species and destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats while also providing reasonable assurance that water projects, both new and historic, can continue.