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fJ tf. <br />N <br />�FEBHASKA ••�••�••� <br />Central Platt <br />y: River Basin <br />"I <br />To help spur development of the western United States and meet future human <br />de ands, the federal government and other entities built a series of dams on the Platte. <br />The e facilities continue to provide for flood control, irrigation, hydropower, recreation <br />and environmental protection. The Bureau of Reclamation's North Platte Project, which <br />inc l des Pathfinder Dam, extends 111 miles along the North Platte River and can provide <br />irril ation to 390,000 acres and serves millions of electricity consumers in the Great <br />Pla' s /Intermountain West area. Water from the South Platte is diverted for agricultural, <br />municipal and industrial use as well. Water and power infrastructure in the Platte River <br />has rought substantial progress to the region, but it has prompted criticism on impacts to <br />fish and wildlife. <br />The JPIatte River and the Endangered Species Act <br />In response to concerns that various species had become or were in danger of <br />bec ming extinct, Congress passed the Endangered Species Act (ESA or the Act) in <br />1971 Under the ESA, the Secretary of the Interior, through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Sen ice (FWS), has responsibility for protecting and recovering plants, wildlife and <br />inla d fishes. The Secretary of Commerce, through NOAA Fisheries, is responsible for <br />imp menting the ESA with respect to ocean -going fish and marine mammals. Each <br />ager zy follows a regulatory process to list a species as "endangered "or "threatened" based <br />on " est available" scientific and commercial information. At the time of designation, <br />the Lct requires the listing of "critical habitat" to the "maximum extent prudent and <br />2 <br />