Public Meetings October 13 1994 Designation of Critical Habitat for Endangered Colorado River Fish

• Description: Public Meetings October 13 1994 Designation of Critical Habitat for Endangered Colorado River Fish
• State: CO
• Date: 10/13/1994
• Author: Terrell, Terry
• Title: Public Meetings October 13 1994 Designation of Critical Habitat for Endangered Colorado River Fish
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

United States Department of the. Interior
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
Mountain- Prairie Region
IN REPLY REFER TO: MAILING ADDRESS:
ES /CR /I &E-
Public Meetings
Mail Stop 55115
PostOF 25486
Denfce dBox Cen
2 I
Denver, Colorado �.
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Dear Meeting Participants:
STREET LOCATION
134 Union Blvd.
Lakewood, Colorado 80228
OCT 1' 1994
TAKEW � M
PRIDE INS
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During the public meeting held on May 20, 1994, regarding the designation of
critical habitat for endangered Colorado River fish, four questions were
raised that the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) could not answer. We
promised participants that we would provide a- written response to them. Here
are the questions and answers:
I. What is the schedule for reinitiating section 7 consultation on Bureau of
Reclamation (Bureau) projects?
The Service met with the Bureau on May 13, 1994, to evaluate Bureau
projects to ensure compliance with section 7 of the Endangered Species
Act. Bureau representatives from Salt Lake City, Grand Junction,
Albuquerque, Provo, Durango, Billings, and Loveland attended the meeting.
Participants discussed all projects they believed would require
reinitiation of section 7 consultation. As a result of this meeting the
Upper Colorado Region of the Bureau developed a prioritized list of
projects to be reevaluated for continued compliance with section 7 (copy
enclosed). The Service is reviewing this list in order to develop a
schedule that the Service is capable of meeting in light of the reduction
in staff and funds available for section 7 consultations.
Also, the Bureau has initiated consultation with the Service on portions
of the Central Utah Project affected by Provo River operations. The two
Agencies will begin formal consultation on the Strawberry Aqueduct and
Diamond Fork project as early as January 1995. Service project leaders
met October 4 with the Management Committee of the Recovery Program for
Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River (Recovery Program) and
discussed section 7 consultations related to critical habitat
designation.
The Service and the Bureau have had additional discussions and meetings
regarding the Animas -La Plata project, Ruedi Round II water sales, and
Colorado -Big Thompson project. The following schedules were developed
for these projects:
Animas -La Plata - - -A Biological Assessment is to be provided by the Bureau
by October 1, 1994; a draft biological opinion by January 1995; and a
final biological opinion by March 1995.