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W REPLY <br />REFER TO: <br />EC -105 <br />ENV -3.00 <br />To: <br />From: <br />.,. <br />Subject: <br />TAKF�■ i <br />PRIDE IN v <br />United States Department of the Interior WRICA��� <br />BUREAU OF RECLAMATION <br />Eastern Colorado Projects Office s ■ <br />11056 West County RD 18E <br />Loveland, Colorado 80537 -9711 <br />APR 19 1994 <br />MEMORANDUM <br />State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, <br />Region 6, Golden, Colorado <br />Attention: Ecological Services <br />A. Jack Garner <br />Area Manager <br />Endangered Species Act Compliance for Bureau of <br />Reclamation (Reclamation), Great Plains Region, <br />Colorado -Big Thompson (CBT) and Fryingpan- Arkansas <br />(Fry -Ark) Projects <br />The Endangered Species Act stipulates that areas of critical <br />habitat may require special management considerations or <br />protection and that Federal actions, which may affect critical <br />habitat, are subject to Section 7 consultation. The designation <br />of critical habitat for Colorado River endangered fishes will <br />become effective on April 20, 1994. Also, the status of the <br />razorback sucker has changed from that of a candidate species to <br />an endangered species as of October 23, 1991. Reclamation <br />recognizes the need to evaluate the status of the Endangered <br />Species Act compliance on Reclamation projects in light of these <br />developments. <br />Reclamation continues to work with the Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(Service) and the other Upper Colorado Recovery Implementation <br />Program (RIP) participants to carry out the program in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. The actions undertaken by the RIP are <br />intended to go beyond removal of jeopardy and accomplish <br />recovery. The March 21, 1994, Federal Register notice which <br />contains the Final Rule for determination of critical habitat <br />reiterates that the program participants intend that the RIP will <br />provide the reasonable and prudent alternative (RPA) that will <br />avoid the likely destruction or adverse modification of critical <br />habitat. A RIP Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP) has been developed <br />which contains the specific actions and time frames needed to <br />recover the fish. We are also aware that Service staff <br />responsible for Section 7 compliance will meet later this month <br />to review the RIPRAP in consideration of critical habitat. At <br />this meeting the Service will determine if any modifications to <br />