Memorandum: April 19 1994 Endangered Species Act Compliance for Bureau of Reclamation (2)

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OR DURANGO, CO ID:303 -385 -6539 APR 25'94 W-76 V - -4100 AP8 1 9 i99d lgasoMMUX 10:31 No.004 P.04 Tot Regional Director, U.S. rial, and Wildlife gervLoo. P.O. Best 284$6, Denver 00 8022S Fromt Charles A. Calhoun or Acting iteytoual Director i0� Subjant: Rndnngared Species Xct ComPlianao !or Bureau of Reclamation, upper Colorado Region, Colorado River Projects and Davignation of Critical Habitat for Endangered fish rho Endangered species Act stipulates that areas of critical habitat may require special managemaL considerations or protection, ano, that Federal actions that may affect oritioal habLL&t are subject to sectlon 7 consultation. The designation of nritical habitat for four Colorado River endan Bred fisbss will become affective on April 20, 1894. We ronogni :es the need ?o evaluate the status of Sadangar■d Species Act compliance on Reclamation protects in light of this new information. Reclamation continues to work with uh4s Barvlce and the other upper Colorado Reenvary Tmplo"atatiioa Program (RIAI partioipaate to carry out iho proyraw in the Vpper Colorado RLver Basin. The actinna undertaken by the RIP are intended to 90 beyond removal of jeopardy, by acco=Ushing recovery. the Xaroh 21, 1994, Federal Register notice whiab contains the Final Rule for determination of critical habitat reiterates that the program participants Intend that the UP will VL-uv14v the reasorAble and prudent alternative (RPa) that will avoid the likely destruction or adverav uOLCLuation of critical habitat. a Wrt Rpoovery Action plan (RZpW1A) has bssn developed which contains the specific actions and timh frames needed to rocovas the tioh, we are also aware that Service staff responsible for Section 7 oomplianne will meet later this month to review the RIPW in consideration of critical habitat. At this tweeting the Bervioe will deteMine if any modifications to the RIFAAP ALM necessary Lo insure that it will serve as the Rpli for impacts to crit Leal . habitat from projoot operations. Reclamation is also funding a 7 -year research program on the can Juan River, and a San Juan RIP has been developed. Reolexation has modified the Operations Ot Navajo dam to facilitate research that will be used to fo =ulate recommendet,Luttu fez spsaiiic flown irOM Navajo Dam to benefit endangered fish and their habitat is the Ran Juan River aasin. The operations of Glen Canyon and Navajo name are under formal consultation. Other research is underway which will be used in the fn mutation of flow reeommendatioos below the AsPinall Unit and Flaminv corce for the benefit of ancangered tish and their habitat. liogotiationa to obtain additional Hates wbloh can be dedicated to the trout fishs<ry balnw McPhee Reservoir are proceeding.. We will uvntinve to consult with the Sarviae during the planning process, and a,io ar® currently finalizi,►q a biological assessment whit will include evaluation of potential impacts to critical habitat. Although the dbuve actions are promoting the reeovary of endangered fishes, anA Reelamation'o partieipation in L1iw Vppor Colorado and SaA Juan Rips is D