MOU Development of a Selenium Management Program

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Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Development of a Selenium Management Program The United States of America, Bureau of Reclamation ( "Reclamation"); Fish and Wildlife Service ( "FWS "); Bureau of Land Management (`BLM "); Natural Resource Conservation Service ( "NRCS "); the Colorado Water Conservation Board; Colorado River Water Conservation District ( "Colorado River District "); Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District; and the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users Association ( "UVWUA "), (collectively referred to herein as the "Parties "), hereby enter this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the development of a Selenium Management Program RECITALS A. The Parties desire to facilitate the development of a cooperative Selenium Management Program ( "SMP ") in a manner consistent with the conservation measure contemplated by the 2009 Gunnison River Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion ( "PBO "). B. The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) describes the selenium issue in the PBO as follows: "The ongoing operation of irrigation projects and other water uses in the basin will continue to contribute selenium to the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers at levels that adversely affect the endangered fishes and their designated critical habitat and are inhibiting the survival and recovery of the endangered fishes. Reclamation will develop and implement a Selenium Management Program (SMP), in cooperation with the State of Colorado and Gunnison River basin water users to reduce adverse effects of selenium on endangered fish species in the Gunnison and Colorado rivers (see Effects of the Proposed Action section). The SMP will incorporate and accelerate ongoing selenium reduction efforts in the Uncompahgre Valley and other areas of the Gunnison Basin and will add several new elements. The overall long -term goal of the program is to assist in species recovery per the Recovery Goals. The SMP will use the best available scientific information for all elements of the program. Elements of the SMP will include: • Accelerated implementation of salinity /selenium control projects for irrigated agriculture • Reduction of other non point source selenium loading • Technology development • Water quality monitoring • Monitoring of endangered fish populations • Coordination with lower Gunnison River Basin watershed management plan • Regulatory support • Public information and education • Adaptive management • Institutional support"