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. <br />i? <br />2.5 SECTION 7 CONSULTATIONS <br />This section describes how Section 7 consultations under the federal Endangered Species Act will <br />be conducted on federal actions affecting threatened and endangered species habitat in the Big <br />Bend area, and the relationship of the Program to Section 7 consultations. The general approach <br />will apply to all future consultations. Under this approach, the Program will provide the reason- <br />able and prudent alternatives for new and historic water projects to avoid jeopardy to threatened <br />and endangered species and to offset any adverse impacts to whooping crane designated critical <br />habitat in the Big Bend area. Consultation on federal actions not involving water projects will <br />be conducted independently by the Service. Reasonable and prudent alternatives on federal <br />actions other than water projects will be consistent with the Program to the extent possible,, and <br />ha? <br />provide the reasonable and prudent <br />will support Program implementation, but the Program wiw <br />alt <br />ernatives for those federal actions. Two significant federal projects are already involved in informal Section 7 consultation: 1) <br />Bureau of Reclamation operation of existing North Platte and South Platte projects; and 2) the <br />Corps of Engineers' Tri-Lakes flood control projects in the South Platte Basin (Chatfield <br />Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, and Bear Creek Reservoir). Because of the special <br />responsibilities of federal agencies under Section 7(a)(1) of the Endangered Species Act, these <br />projects will be treated differently than other projects in the basin, as described below (Sections <br />2.5.2 and 2.5.4). However, future consultations will be in accordance with the general approach <br />for all water projects. <br />Kingsley Dam is in the process of being relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory <br />Commission. The relicensing is subject to Section 7 consultation. The Section 7 consultation <br />on the current relicensing of Kingsley Dam will also be treated differently from the general <br />approach, as described below (Section 2.5.3). However, future relicensing and other federal <br />actions affecting threatened and endangered species habitat in the Big Bend area will be <br />conducted in accordance with the general approach to Section 7 consultations (Section 2.5.1). <br />19