Memorandum: April 19 1994 Endangered Species Act Compliance for the Animas LaPlata Project

• Description: Memorandum: April 19 1994 Endangered Species Act Compliance for the Animas LaPlata Project and designation of critical habitat for endangered fish
• State: CO
• Date: 4/19/1994
• Author: Calhoun, Charles
• Title: Memorandum: April 19 1994 Endangered Species Act Compliance for the Animas LaPlata Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Board Memo

UK UUKHNGU. CU
UC -770
ENV -4.00
To:
ID :303- 385 -6539
APR 1 9 1994
MEMORANDUM
APR 25'94
10 :30 No .004 P.02
Regional Director U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486,
Denver CO 80221
From: A. Charles A. Calhoun
P %01 Acting Regional Director
Subject: .Endangered Species Act Compliance for the Animas IaPlata Project
and Designation of Critical Habitat for Endangered Fish
The Bureau of Reclamation recognizes that the designation of critical habitat
for four Colorado River endangered fishes, which will become affective on
April 20, 1994, constitutes now information on endangered fish within the area
of influence of the Animas -la Plata Project. Tha Endangered -Spaclas Act .(ESA)
stipulates that areas of critical habitat may require special management
considerations or protection, and, that FRderal actions which may effect
critical habitat are subject to Section 7 consultation. In compliance with
the ESA, we request formal consultation an the Animas -La Plata Projoct
regarding critical habitat.
As part of the ongoing informal consultation on the Animas -La Plata Project,
we are collecting data and praparinq a biological assessment to address
impacts to bald eagles, which were not fully considered in the current
opinion. This assessment will also evaluate potential project impacts to the
proposed southwestern willow flycatcher, and newly designated critical habitat
for tho -four endangered fish. Please reviow the species list which you
provided previously and inform us if any additional species or-critical
habitat should be included in the analysis.
Although construction -and operation of the Animas -La Plata Project may affect
critical habitat in the San Juan, Reclamation is funding a 7-year research
program on the San Juan River, and the San Juan Recovery Implementation
Program (SJ RIP) has been developed to recovery the endangered fish.
Reclamation has modified the operations of Navajo dais to facilitate research
efforts being conducted under the SJ RIP. The results of this research will
be used to formulate recommendations for specific releases from Navajo Dam
which will benefit the endangered fish and their habitat. Therefore, we
request the Service agree to exterui Lhe consultation period on critical
habitat until the efforts to collect data on the bald eag le are completed, and
potential project impacts to these species and critical ftabitat can be
evaluated simultaneously. We would like the consultation period to coincide
with the preparation of the final National Environmental policy Act document,
scheduled to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency in June 1995.
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