Public Meeting on Critical Habitat for Colorado River Fish

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IN REPLY REFER TO: United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Mountain- Prairie Region MAILING ADDRESS: STREET LOCATION Past Office Box 25486 134 Union Blvd. Denver Federal Center Lakewood, Colorado 80228 Denver, Colorado 80225 FACT SHEET ■ TAKE�� PRIDE IN�' AMEA&CA POTENTIAL WATER DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS RESULTING FROM CRITICAL HABITAT DESIGNATION FOR ENDANGERED COLORADO RIVER FISH Q. What does the designation of critical habitat for endangered Colorado River fish mean to water development and water use projects in the upper Colorado River Basin? A. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act requires Federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service on any action that is likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. Because critical habitat has been designated for endangered Colorado River fish, section 7 consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is required to assess the impact of water projects on critical habitat. Certain flood plain developments will be closely scrutinized under critical habitat. Examples of such developments include gravel mining, river bank stabilization and construction of dikes and levees. This requirement applies only to projects in which the Federal government is involved. The Fish and Wildlife Service does not intend to use the critical habitat designation as a "hammer" to stop all new water development in the upper Colorado River Basin or to condemn water in existing projects. The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin, which has a stated purpose of recovering endangered fish while also providing for water development, will continue. In fact, the Service expects the Recovery Program to be modified to address critical habitat and allow the program to serve as the "reasonable and prudent" alternative for adverse modification of critical habitat caused by new and existing water development projects. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service expects to work with the owners and operators of existing projects on a voluntary basis to provide flows needed to recover endangered fish. The extent to which the Recovery Program can serve as a reasonable and prudent alternative will depend on the Recovery Action Plan being modified and implemented fully and in a timely manner.