Platte River Habitat Conservation Program

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need for jeopardy biological opinions when federal actions associated with future water use are subjected to Section 7 consultation. Specifically, the Program will do two things: 1) with participation.and agreement by the Service, tfie Program will plan and provide endangered species habitats, including necessary instream flows, in the Big Bend area of the Platte River sufficient to insure that the Platte River does not limit the survival and recovery of endangered species which use the Platte River; 2) with participation and agreement by the Service, the Program will develop and apply the best available scientific and commercial information for ongoing Program implementation, The Service will use this information, and the accomplishments of the Program, in conducting the Section 7 consultation process, including formulation of biological opinions. For example, the Platte River Management Joint Study developed information! describing the habitat requirements of four threatened and endangered species (bald eagle, whooping crane, interior least tern, and piping plover), an analytical model for measuring changes in the relationship between instream flows and whooping crane habitat, methods and techniques for managing habitat, and criteria for comparing alternatives for acquiring and managing land and water resources necessary to implement the Program (see Appendix 6.2). This information and new information developed by the Program will be used as the basis for the Program actions and by the Service in formulating Section 7 biological opinions. If the Service determines that certain kinds of information are needed for future Section 7 consultation, the Program will be asked to provide that information. All relevant information, including information from other sources outside the Program, will be reviewed, verified, and incorporated into the Program as applicable. The Program will provide reasonable and prudent alternatives for both historic water projects and new water projects. The Program will provide the reasonable and prudent alternatives for all impacts of historic water projects that may be subject to Section 7 consultation due to a future federal action (permit, FERC relicensing, permit renewal, loan, right-of-way permit, etc.). In conducting the Section 7 consultations, the Service will define the impact of the project, and identify completed.Program actions - or actions to be completed in accordance with an agreed upon schedule - that provide reasonable and prudent alternatives to avoid jeopardy. For new 22