C150335 Feasibility

• Contract/PO #: C150335
• Contractor Name: Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District
• Contract Type: Loan
• County: Park
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

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United States Department of the Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Ecological Services
Colorado Field Office
P.O. Box 25486, DFC (65412)
Denver, Colorado 80225 -0486
IN REPLY REFER TO:
ES /CO: ES/LK- 6- CO -12 -F -005
TAILS: 06E24000- 2012 -F -0024
NOV 21 2011
Mr. Timothy Carey
Denver Regulatory Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
9307 S. Wadsworth Boulevard
Littleton, Colorado 80218 -6901
Dear Mr. Carey:
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This final biological opinion is provided in response to your October 5, 2011, request to
initiate formal consultation pursuant to section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973, as amended (ESA). Your Biological Assessment (BA) described the potential effects of
the Center of Colorado Water Conservancy District's (District) Smelter Pipeline Reservoir
Project (Project), Corps File No. NWO -2011- 2065 -DEN, on federally listed species and
designated critical habitat associated with the Platte River in Nebraska. Your October 5,
2011, letter made no determination on the effects the proposed action may have on listed
species/critical habitat in Colorado; therefore, this opinion will not address any listed species
in Colorado.
The Federal Action reviewed in this biological opinion is the modification of the Smelter
Pipeline Reservoir, which is owned by the District, for the purpose of storing augmentation
water near the Town of Alma in Park County, Colorado. The District proposes improvements
to the reservoir to return its water storage function, including removing sediment and debris
from the slopes and bottom of the reservoir to increase the storage volume; filling the western
portion of the reservoir below the ordinary high water mark with excess fill; and repair/
replacement of the existing inlet and outlet structures. As a result of the improvements, the
modified Smelter Pipeline Reservoir would have a different footprint, but still within the
existing footprint of the reservoir, and, a larger storage capacity so the District can use the
reservoir as an augmentation water storage structure for its future, additional customers.
BACKGROUND
On June 16, 2006, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) issued a programmatic
biological opinion (PBO) for the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (PRRIP) and