8169a

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8169a
• Author: Brookshire, D. S., M. McKee and G. Watts.
• Title: Draft Economic Analysis of Proposed Critical Habitat Designation in the Colorado River Basin for the Razorback Sucker, Humpback Chub, Colorado Squawfish, and Bonytail.
• USFW Year: 1993.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

Section 2: Critical Habitat, Species Listing
and the Proposed Designation
A. Critical Habitat
The Endangered Species Act provides a means to conserve the ecosystems upon which
endangered and threatened species depend. Conservation activities provided to species listed
as endangered or threatened under the Act include recognition, recovery actions, Federal
protection, and prohibitions against certain specified practices. In some of these cases,
current uses of the resources must be altered, and future planned uses must be either changed
or curtailed.
Designation of critical habitat is primazily intended to identify the habitat that may be needed
for survival and recovery. The designation of critical habitat in an area aids in protection of
that area from habitat-threatening activities. Through Section 7 of the Act, designation of
critical habitat also may provide a regulatory mechanism for protection in key areas outside
those currently occupied by the species.
Section 7(a)(2) of the Act requires Federal agencies to ensure that activities they authorize,
fund, or carry out aze not likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitat. This Federal
responsibility accompanies the requirement in Section 7(a)(2) of the Act and specifies that
Federal agencies must ensure their actions do not jeopazdize the continued existence of listed
species. Jeopazdy is defined as any action that would reduce appreciably the likelihood of
both the survival -and the recovery of the species. Destruction or adverse modification of
critical habitat is defined as any direct or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the
value of critical habitat for both the survival and the recovery of the species.
Destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat is defined in 50 CFR 402.02 as a direct
or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of critical habitat for both the
survival and recovery of a listed species. The regulations also state that such alterations
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