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would be found by the Service to likely jeopardize the continued existence of the target <br />species or adversely modify designated critical habitat. <br />3. Help prevent the need to list more basin associated species pursuant to the Endangered <br />Species Act of 197' ), as amended (ESA). <br />The long term objectives of the Program are, 1) to provide sufficient water to and through the <br />central Platte River (via reregulation and water conservation/supply projects) to improve and <br />maintain habitats associated with the target species and, 2) to perpetually protect and, where <br />appropriate, restore apRoximately 29,000 acres of suitable habitat in the central Platte River area <br />in ten habitat complexes located between Lexington and Chapman, Nebraska. <br />The Program will be implemented on an incremental basis, the first increment being 10 -13 years <br />in length. The goals for the first increment include, 1) improve the occurrence of Platte River <br />flows relative to the present occurrence of Service target flows by an average of 130,000 to <br />150,000 acre -feet per year as measured at Grand Island, through reregulation and water <br />conservation supply projects, 2) protect and, where appropriate, restore at least 10,000 acres in <br />habitat complexes located between Lexington and Chapman. <br />This proposed Program will undergo review pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, <br />and a preferred alternative may be identified in the subsequent Environmental Impact Statement. <br />The Proposed Program (or preferred alternative) will also be reviewed by the Service via a <br />programmatic consultation pursuant to the ESA. <br />The Evaluation Process <br />The following process will be used by the Service to evaluate Program benefits to the target <br />species in order to determine whether the Program can continue to comply with requirements of <br />the Endangered Species Act at the end of the first increment. The process assumes the Service <br />determined the Program (or preferred alternative) will adequately offset effects of water <br />development on the target species during the first increment. <br />Prior to Program Implementation: <br />1. Suitable habitat will be defined based on current knowledge (e.g., Joint Study, revised <br />models, input by species experts), recognizing that future data may alter that definition. <br />A preliminary definition of suitable habitat is attached. <br />2. A preliminary habitat baseline based on current knowledge (RI -1) will be developed. The <br />baseline is currently being generated by the Service with input from the Technical <br />Committee. Anticipated components include the 1998 central Platte River GIS developed <br />by the Service and Bureau of Reclamation, maps of Private Lands Program activities, and <br />various models, including the sediment/vegetation model. <br />2 <br />