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CI. Amount or Extent of Incidental Take Anticipated <br />Consistent with the April 28, 2004 finding of the National Academy of Sciences <br />(NAS), FSW agrees that current habitat conditions on the lower Platte River do not <br />adversely affect the likelihood of survival and recovery of the pallid sturgeon because <br />that reach of the river appears to retain several habitat characteristics apparently <br />preferred by the species. However, FWS believes that further alterations of discharge <br />patterns or channel features that modify those characteristics caused by the Program <br />and the water withdrawals covered by this biological opinion might irreparably alter <br />this habitat for pallid sturgeon use. At this time, many questions about the biology of <br />the pallid sturgeon and the role of the lower Platte River in the species recovery <br />remain unanswered. The Program is designed to answer the many questions about the <br />biology of the pallid sturgeon and the role of the lower Platte River in the species <br />recovery and to prevent significant alterations to lower Platte habitat if new <br />information warrants such actions. A minimum amount of incidental take of pallid <br />sturgeon may indirectly result from alterations of discharge patterns or channel <br />features that modify current habitat conditions before there is a complete <br />understanding of the biology of the pallid sturgeon and the role of the lower Platte <br />River in the species recovery, or from Program monitoring and research efforts. <br />The following types of take are possible as a result of Program implementation: <br />l. Potential habitat modification. <br />a. Currently there is no evidence of spawning in the lower Platte, and many <br />questions about spawning cues remain, but some data suggests that such cues <br />may be related to hydrology during the spawning period. If so, and if pallid <br />sturgeon capable of spawning appear in the lower Platte River in the future, <br />they could be harmed by significant future reduction of spring peak flow <br />magnitude. The Program's provisions addressing the selection of Program <br />water projects and the Program's various new depletions plans limit reductions <br />in spring peak flow magnitudes. Depending on the outcome of investigations <br />of the need for and potential benefits of sediment augmentation/pulse flow <br />measures identified in the Program, Program pulse flows may further reduce <br />impacts on spring peak flow magnitude. If a relationship is confirmed <br />between spawning cues and spring peak flow magnitudes in Program studies <br />and other Program-referenced studies of the biological needs of the pallid <br />sturgeon, the Program includes provisions requiring implementation of an <br />appropriate conservation measure that either negates or offsets the occurrence <br />of adverse impacts on the pallid sturgeon. Thus, although this type of take is <br />difficult to quantify, we believe that any take would be low. <br />b. Many questions remain about pallid sturgeon biological needs, but some data <br />suggests that if spawning is resumed in the lower Platte, mortality of early life <br />stages could result from reduced peak flows severing floodplain connectivity,