7054

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7054
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Brief ‎(on Colorado River Endangered Fishes, Water Development, Section 7 Consultation)‎.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

5
Consultation on Upper Basin Water Development Projects
Historical - 1977 to 1980:
Jeopardy opinions were issued on all major water development projects (14)
in the Upper Basin (total depletion: 700,000 AF). Jeopardy conclusions
(see Attachment III. and V. for project lists) were based upon:
1. Habitat alteration resulting from flow depletions; and
2. Cumulative effects on the habitat of further water depletions..
Alternatives to avoid jeopardy, such as purchasing water for timed release,
were implemented.
Qpinions were based upon few data. Therefore, BR and FWS initiated in 1978
a 3-year study to determine the biological status of the fish as as aid in
analyzing project impacts upon the listed fish.
Consultation on 20 additional water development projects was delayed to
await completion of the fisheries studies, as there was insufficient data
to properly analyze project impacts.
Development of the Windy Gap Approach - 1981 to 1983:
It was realized that development of the 20 proposed projects could not be
delayed indefinitely and initiation~of further study(s) would be necessary.
In 1981 an approach to avoid jeopardy'situations was developed to complete
consultation on these 20 projects. This approach was based upon three
points:
1. The FWS would develop a comprehensive conservation plan as a guide to
managing the endangered fish in the Upper Basin;
2. Projects could proceed with development; and
3. 'Costs of avoiding jeopardy would be shared by project sponsors, based
on the assumption that development (i.e., depletion) resulted in the
recent decline of the listed fish.
This approach evolved through consultation on the Windy Gap Project and the
Cheyenne Water Supply Project. Personnel from the lead Federal agencies,
project sponsors, representatives of the State or municipal agencies, members
of the congressional staffs of Congressman Cheney (Wyoming) and Senators Hart
and Armstrong (Colorado), along with personnel from the FWS were included in
the development of the approach to resolve conflicts for both these projects.
A formula was developed for apportioning conservation costs between projects
based upon the proposed project deRletion as a percentage of the total amount
of water available for depletion in the Upper Basin (total available: 1.6M AF).