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Page 5 <br />STATUS OF THE SPECIES / CRITICAL HABITAT <br />Species descriptions, life histories, population dynamics, status and distributions are fully <br />described in the PBO on pages 76 -156 for the whooping crane, interior least tern, piping <br />plover, pallid sturgeon and'western prairie fringed orchid, and whooping crane critical habitat <br />and are hereby incorporated by reference. Since issuance of the Service's PBO, there have <br />been no substantial changes in the status of the target species /critical habitat other than the <br />bald eagle delisting previously mentioned. <br />ENVIRONMENTAL BASELINE <br />The Environmental Baseline sections for the Platte River and for the whooping crane, interior <br />least tern, piping plover, pallid sturgeon and western prairie fringed orchid, and whooping <br />crane critical habitat are described on pages 157 to 219 of the Tier 1 PBO, and are hereby <br />incorporated by reference. Since issuance of the Tier 1 PBO, there have been no substantial <br />changes in the status of the target species /critical habitat in the action area other than the bald <br />eagle delisting. <br />EFFECTS OF THE ACTION <br />Based on our analysis of the information provided in your BA for the Project, the Service <br />concludes that the proposed Federal Action will result in a combination of existing and new <br />depletions to the Platte River system above the Loup River confluence. These depletions are <br />associated with 0.73 acre -feet per year (af /year) of continuing historic depletions and 0.57 <br />of /year of new depletions to the North Platte River: 0.40 af/year historic (E. Walden Reservoir <br />#2), 0.33 of /year historic (Pit Reservoir - East), 0.15 of /year new (Ironclad Spring), and 0.42 <br />of /year new (Stolns Well). <br />All four projects would provide water primarily for livestock, and then wildlife. The two <br />proposed pond cleanouts are runoff fed and expected to be dry most years by end of summer. <br />Although their depletions would likely be limited to the pond volume (i.e., no refill), the <br />surface acreage was included in the depletions calculation for the expected evaporation from a <br />full pond throughout the summer, using evaporation rates for April- August. The depletions <br />estimates for the undeveloped seep, Ironclad Spring, and the proposed Stolns Well were based <br />on the number of permitted livestock and days of use, and assuming 15 gallons /day /cow. <br />Although the pastures often have other water sources, the estimates assumed a sole water <br />source; therefore, actual depletions would not exceed the estimates. All historic depletions <br />are automatically covered by the PRRIP; new depletions occurring in Jackson County would <br />be covered under the North Platte portion of the Colorado Plan for Future Depletions in the <br />PRRIP as specified in the State's MOA with the Service. <br />As both an existing and new Federal water - related activity, we have determined that the flow - <br />related adverse effects of the Project are consistent with those evaluated in the Tier 1 PBO for <br />the whooping crane, interior least tern, piping plover, pallid sturgeon, western prairie fringed <br />