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<br />. , <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />common reasonable and prudent alternative used was the commitment by the <br />project sponsor (usually the USSR) to provide releases from existing storage <br /> <br />reservoirs (e.g., Flaming Gorge and Slue Mesa reservoirs) to offset the water <br />depletions. Major consultations completed using this approach included the <br />Dolores Project, the Dallas Creek Project, and the Central Utah Project. <br />In 1981, the Windy Gap and Moon Lake Projects, that would deplete water <br /> <br />from the Colorado, Green, and White rivers, were reviewed by the USFWS under <br />et\'P q\, lL.-- 0 ~ <br />a Section 7 consultation. However, these projects were not w~itten ~. <br /> <br />guarnnteJ1releases to offset water depletions. In addition, they were <br /> <br />"private" water development projects and the project sponsors did not want a <br />"jeopardy opinions" because they argued that such opinions would affect their <br />ability to obtain project financing and necessary construction permits. In <br />response to this issue, the USFWS developed a consultation approach, known as <br />"the Windy Gap Process", that allowed projects to proceed with a "no <br />jeopardy" finding assuming that the project sponsor contributed monetarily to <br />a comprehensive recovery effort for the endangered fishes. <br />The Windy Gap Process was based on an estimate that it would cost $25 <br />million to implement a comprehensive fishery conservation effort for the <br />upper basin. Under this process, sponsors of a private water development <br /> <br />project were required to provide monetary compensation for actions that would <br /> <br />result in jeopardy to threatened or endangered species, based on a formula <br />that, considered quantity of water to be depleted and the volume of water <br />remaining after interstate compact flows to the lower basin were delivered. <br /> <br />Consultation under the Windy Gap Process resulted in nearly $1.3 million <br />being provided to the USFWS between 1981 and 1987. These funds were used for <br /> <br />studies of ecological requirements, propagation and stocking, habitat <br />improvements, and other recovery efforts. The Windy Gap Process did not <br />