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water projects, the same process will apply, except that Program actions to serve as reasonable <br />and prudent alternatives must be completed before the project impact occurs. In addition, new <br />projects will pay a one time depletion charge of $_ per acre-foot as part of the reasonable and <br />prudent alternative. The depletion charge will be used to implernent Program activities (see <br />Section 5.1.4). <br />If the Service determines through an intemal review process and discussions within the Program <br />that sufficient progress is not being achieved by the Program to justify issuance of no jeopardy <br />biological opinions for foreseeable federal actions related to water projects, the Service will <br />notify the Program and assist in identifying Program actions that will achieve sufficient progress <br />and allow the Service to continue to issue no jeopardy biological opinions based on Program <br />accomplishments. <br />In summary, the Service will consider the habitat improvements, including provision and <br />protection of instream flows, and development of scientific and commercial information by the <br />Program in the Section 7 consultation procedures as reasonable and prudent alternatives that <br />allow the Service to issue no jeopardy opinions. <br />Framework for Future Section 7 Consultations <br />The following describes the framework for conducting Section 7 consultations on depletion <br />impacts relatetl to new water projects and impacts associated with historic water projects in the <br />Platte River Basin: <br />1. Activities and accomplishments under the Program are intended to provide the reasonable <br />and prudent alternatives which avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the continuerl existence of <br />endangered species and avoid the likely destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat <br />(hereinafter the "reasonable and prudent alternative") resulting from water depletion impacts of <br />new projects and all impacts of historic projects in the Big Bend area, with the exception of the <br />ongoing consultations on Reclamation's operational review of existing projects, the Corps of <br />23