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agreed that replacement obligations for projects covered by a corres onding state or federal <br />depletion plan will be determined on the basis of the extent to whic they create or increase <br />shortages to species flows and annual pulse flows only, on average, relative to pre -1997 <br />conditions. There are no replacement obligations relative to peak flows for projects covered by a <br />future depletion plan. <br />(7) EIS and Biological Opinion (BO) evaluations of the Proposed Program <br />The environmental impacts of the Proposed Program will be analyzed in an Environmental <br />Impact Statement (EIS), and compliance of the Proposed Program with the requirements of the <br />Endangered Species Act will be evaluated separately in a Biological Opinion (BO). <br />EIS evaluations will consider the effects of the Proposed Program (and other alternatives) on all <br />flows in the central Platte River. For comparative "scoring" purposes, the EIS evaluation will <br />also estimate reductions in shortages to Program target flows (species flows and annual pulse <br />flows) associated with each of the water alternatives. `\ <br />Similarly, the BO will consider the effects of the Proposed Program on all flows. This will <br />include consideration of the Proposed Program's effects relative to the Service's species flows, r \,4L <br />annual pulse flows, and peak flow recommendations, as the Service considers all of these flow � I(, <br />recommendations important to the "structure and function, patterns and processes, and habitat of ` ^,,�U <br />the central Platte River ecosystem ". <br />(8) Future evaluations of Program benefits. <br />As noted above, only Program target flows (species flows and annual pulse flows) have been <br />used as the basis for: <br />• Calculating "historic shortages to target flows "; <br />• Establishing replacement obligations for projects covered by state and federal future depletion plans; <br />• Reconnaissance -level evaluations of potential Program flow augmentation projects (Boyle's "Water <br />Conservation/Supply Study "); and _ 0 <br />• "Scoring" the Proposed Program and alternatives relative to Service goals. 1 ;,A { <br />Nevertheless, peak flow recommendations are identified as an essential <br />component of the suite of flow recommendations established by F S for the central Platte River <br />because of their importance for the maintenance of river- associated habitat. and tThus they also <br />will be evaluated in terms of Program benefits for the target species. It remains an objective of h W ce <br />the Service to (1) minimize reductions in the frequency a magnitude of the highest peak flows e <br />and (2) improve the long -term running average annual e flow magnitudes in the central Platte �J oL <br />River because the Service considers peak flows an essential ctor in conserving the ecosystems <br />upon which the listed species and other species depend. F ure evaluations of the Program will <br />require a balanced assessment of the positive effects on ecies and annual pulse flows versus a <br />the negative effects on peak flows. ice, 4.1� <br />(9) Operation of aRproved Water Action Plan projects and the three initial Program. protects <br />relative to Program target flows. <br />9 <br />