Lower South Platte River Study

• Contractor Name: Colorado Water Conservation Board
• Loan Projects - Doc Type: Feasibility Study

Lower South Platte River Study
Colorado Water Conservation Board
December 2001
During the NEPA process, any interested citizen, environmental group, and other public
' agency may become a party to the permit approval process. The following federal agencies
generally comment extensively:
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the "Cooperative Agreement for
Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered Species
' Habitats Along the Central Platte River,Nebraska". Through Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act(ESA), the lead agency responsible for NEPA
documentation must consult with the USFWS regarding potential adverse project
effects on federally-listed threatened or endangered species (including dedicated
critical habitat for such species). The USFWS is required to prepare a Biological
Opinion regarding such species affected by the project. If the USFWS determines
that the project may affect the continued existence of any of these species, federal
approvals cannot be issued unless a Reasonable and Prudent Alternative(RPA) is
developed and approved by the USFWS.
• If federally-listed threatened or endangered species are affected by the projects,
' formal consultation with the USFWS will be required. The USFWS considers any
project-related water depletions to the Platte River system as a potential threat to the
continued existence of endangered species (whooping crane, piping plover, least tern,
and pallid sturgeon) whose habitat occurs or may occur along the Central Platte River
in Nebraska. Any South Platte River depletions related to development of a water
' project,no matter how small, are considered a potential threat to the continued
existence of these species by the USFWS.
• The States of Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska have entered into a"Cooperative
Agreement for Platte River Research and other Efforts Relating to Endangered
Species Habitats Along the Central Platte River,Nebraska"(CA). The purpose of the
' Cooperative Agreement is to implement certain aspects of the USFWS recovery plans
for target species through:
' - Implementation of research, analysis, and other measures to benefit target
species
' - Implementation of efforts to acquire, restore, and manage land or interests in
land so as to provide and improve associated habitats for the target species
- Development and implementation of certain water management, conservation,
and supply measures
- Development of a basin-wide program that will secure defined benefits for
target species and habitats, serve as a reasonable and prudent alternative to
GEI Consultants, Inc. 3-3 01002 Dec 2001 Lower South Platte River Study