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<br />, " <br /> <br />001:E24 <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />Process <br /> <br />The evaluation will be led by Reclamation in cooperation with the Service, <br />states, operating entities, and other interests. The lead office for <br />Reclamation will be the North Platte River Projects Office in Mills, Wyoming, <br />where a study manager has been employed. Technical work for the evaluation <br />will be done by teams of specialists from Reclamation and Service offices. <br />Interested organizations, agencies, and individuals will be kept informed <br />about the evaluation as it proceeds; many will prove to be sources of data <br />which will contribute to the results of the evaluation. <br />I 5_t- <;J-cr ~ <br /> <br />L ro...~ r;)""C,?H_ <br /> <br />W,~GM t. <br /> <br />The Product <br /> <br />-~ .' <br />/'.1:"'" "j'''} <br />.:::J., ':;l -'., "_ <br /> <br />The evaluation and report preparation wili be performed in two stages. The <br />first stage will evaluate the operation of existing Reclamation projects <br />located on the North Platte River for the Potential to affect threatened and <br />endangered species. The second stage will evaluate the operation of <br />Reclamation's South Platte River COlorado-Big Thompson Project for the <br />potential to affect threatened and endangered species. <br /> <br />The first stage evaluation will lead to a report on the operation of <br />Reclamation's North Platte River Projects and their relationship to threatened <br />and endangered species. Using existing and newly developed data and <br />incorporating it into scientific models, the evaluation report will examine <br />and display: <br /> <br />1. Hydrologic Operations - How does the river system and man-made <br />facilities within the basin operate? Using historical data and <br />current operating data, the evaluation will examine river and <br />tributary flows, diversions, return flows, ground water effects, <br />climate, and land uses. It will consider irrigation, power <br />production, fish and wildlife, municipal and industrial demands, flood <br />control, and other water uses. <br /> <br />2. River Hydraulic and Sediment Characteristics - What are the relation- <br />ships between sediment loads, flow characteristics, and the river <br />channel? This portion of the evaluation will examine how the river <br />responds under different flows and sediment yields. <br /> <br />3. Species Habitat Characteristics and Goals - How do threatened and <br />endangered species use the river system and what are the goals for <br />habitat management in the basin? This section will describe current <br />habitat characteristics and future needs for fish and wildlife. <br /> <br />4. Evaluation of Project Operations - Does the existing and or <br />discretionary operation of Reclamation facilities in the Platte River <br />Basin affect positively or negatively threatened and endangered <br />species? This analysis will be consistent with legal requirements <br />under which the facilities are operated (laws, compacts, rules, <br />decrees). <br /> <br />iii <br />