BOARD00310

• Board Meeting Date: 1/27/2004
• Description: WSP Section - Gunnison Basin Programmatic Biological Opinion ‎(PBO)‎ Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Agenda Item 26
January 27-28,2004 Board Meeting
Page 4 of9

2, Projects and depletions in the Gunnison basin to be included in the baseline for the EIS will .
be identified during the scoping process. Any party may suggest items for inclusion in the
baseline during the EIS scoping process

3. Reclamation intends to initiate the EIS in early 2004 and to complete it in approximately four
years; however, it is recognized that uncertainty exists with respect to the schedule,

4, Reclamation will complete a biological assessment of impacts of the proposed re-operation of
the Aspinall Unit as part of the EIS process, and, in accordance with the schedule in the
Recovery Program's Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP), request a biological opinion from the
Service. The Service will issue a separate biological opinion on the proposed re-operation of the
Aspinall Unit or, depending on the nature of the request by Reclamation, address Aspinall Unit
operations in the PBO.

5. In accordance with the RIPRAP , a PBO will be requested by the Recovery Program from the
Service, with the intention that the PBO will provide ESA compliance for all federal and non-
federal projects in the Gunnison River basin. This PBO will include the depletions of the federal
Dolores Project and, if agreed to by Colorado and Reclamation, non-federal projects' depletions
in the Dolores River basin,

6, The Service intends to initiate activities associated with the PBO , including discussions with
water users in the Gunnison basin and other interests, in advance of completion of the EIS, so as
to ensure a timely completion of the PBO , The schedule for fmalization of the PBO will be .
coordinated with the Aspinall Unit ROD by Reclamation,

7, The PBO will include existing depletions, but no future depletions, in the Gunnison Basin,
except those authorized and presently covered by the existing biological opinion on the Dallas
Creek Project.

8, It is intended that ESA compliance for future depletions in the Gunnison River basin will be
provided by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program )
in accordance with the Section 7 agreement adopted by the Recovery Program. The Service has
determined that, currently, the Recovery Program provides ESA compliance for projects
depleting up to 4,500 AF/year, based on "sufficient progress" determinations by the Service,
This determination may change depending on the annual assessment of progress by the Recovery
Program that is conducted by the Service. The Recovery Program also is intended to provide
ESA compliance for water projects depleting more than is determined the annual assessment, but
those require separate evaluations to determine if the Recovery Program is, in fact, providing the
reasonable and prudent alternatives for these larger projects,

9. The Service intends, to the maximum extent possible, to use the Recovery Program as the
reasonable and prudent alternative to provide ESA compliance for impacts of water depletions in
the Gurmison basin and the Dolores basin,

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