Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />REVISED DRAFT <br />November 15, 2002 <br />I. PROGRAM PURPOSES <br />A. The purpose of this Program is to implement certain aspects of the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service's (FWS') recovery plans for the target species that relate to their <br />associated habitats by providing for the following: <br />1. securing defined benefits for the target species and their associated habitats <br />to assist in their conservation and recovery through a basin -wide cooperative <br />approach agreed to by the three states and DOI; <br />2. providing ESA compliance' for existing and new water related activities' in <br />the Platte River Basin; <br />' "ESA compliance" means: (1) serving as the reasonable and prudent alternative to <br />offset the effects of water - related activities that FWS found were likely to cause jeopardy to one <br />or more of the target species or to adversely modify critical habitat before the Program was in <br />place; (2) providing offsetting measures to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to one or more of the <br />target species or adverse modification of the critical habitat for new or existing water - related <br />activities evaluated under the ESA after the Program was in place; and (3) avoiding any <br />prohibited take of target species. <br />s For purposes of this Program document and its attachments, the term "water <br />related activities" means activities and aspects of activities which (1) are subject to section <br />7(a)(2) of the ESA; (2) occur in the Platte River Basin upstream of the confluence of the Loup <br />River with the Platte River; and (3) may affect Platte River flow quantity or timing, including, <br />but not limited to, water diversion, storage and use activities. Those changes resulting from land <br />use activities which affect flow quantity and timing will be considered impacts of a "water <br />related activity." Changes in temperature and sediment transport will be considered impacts of a <br />"water related activity" to the extent that such changes are caused by activities affecting flow <br />quantity or timing. "Water related activities" do not include those components of land use <br />activities or discharges of pollutants that do not affect flow quantity or timing. "New water <br />related activities" are new surface water or hydrologically connected groundwater activities <br />including both new projects and expansion of existing projects, both those subject to and not <br />subject to section 7(a)(2) of the ESA, which may affect the quantity or timing of water reaching <br />the associated habitats and which are implemented after July 1, 1997. <br />2 <br />