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<br />11111"...; <br /> <br />APPENDIX: CRITICAL HABITAT ANALYSIS <br /> <br />BAGKJ;ROUNO <br /> <br />The final rule determining critical habitat for the four endangered fishes was published <br />In the Federal Register on March 21, 1994, and the final designation b~came effective <br />on Apn120. 1994, As stated in the Sec\lon 7 Agreement and in the RIPRAP.the <br />Recovery Program is Intended to serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative to <br />avoid the likely destruction or adverse modification 01 critical habitat, as well as to aVOid <br />the likelihood of jeopardy to the continued existence of the endangered fishes resulting <br />lrom deplellon impacts of new projects and all eXlsling or past Impact srelatedto <br />htstoric water projects wIth the exception of the discharge by hIstoric prOlects 01 <br />pollutants such as trar.e elements. heavy metals. and pesticides, Once cflltcal habitat <br />was designated. the Service reviewed the RIPRAP. and in CoordinatIon with the <br />Recovery Program's Management CommIttee. developed modifications to fulfllllhls <br />intent <br /> <br />The Servlce's review concluded that many of the actions In the eXtstlng RIPRAP would <br />not only contribute to allowing the Recovery Program to continue to serve as the <br />reasonable and prudent altemallve to avoid the likelihood of Jeopardy to the continued <br />eXIstence of the endangered fIshes, but also would avoid the likely destruction or <br />adverse modIfication of Critical habitat lor the endangered fishes, SpeCIfically. the <br />RIPRAP already included several of the followin9 kinds of habitat.related actions for <br />each subbasin (exceptlhe DOlores RIver); Instream-fiow ecquislllon.legal protection. <br />and delivery from modif,ed reservoir operalions; fish passage restoratIon: and flooded <br />bollomland restoration, Thus. the Critical habItat modificatIons to the RIPRAP were not <br />extensive, They were pnmarlly Intended to provide further definition to rocovery actions <br />already in the RIPRAP and to provide increased certainty that the Recovery Program <br />can continue to serve as the reasonable and prudent allemahve lor projects subject to <br />SectiOn 7 consultations Since many historic projects wIll bo required to reiOlllate <br />SectIon 7 consultation With the Service due to the Critical habitat designation. the <br />Service encouraged Recovery Program participants to complete these RIPRAP actions <br />as quickly as possible to facilitate fish recovery, <br /> <br />Destruction or adverse modlficalion 01 critical habitat is detined at 50 CFR 402,02 as a <br />direcl or ,ndireCt alleration that appreciably dIminishes the val ue of critical habllat for <br />QQ1t! the survival and recoveryofalisted speCIes, Secllon 7consultahon IS initialed by <br />a Federal agency when Its acllon may affect crilical habiti:lt by impacllng any of the <br />primary conShtuent elements or reducing the potential of critical habitat to develop <br />those elements, The pflmary conslltuent elements defined in the final rule as <br />necessary for survival and reco\lery of the tour Colorado River endangered fishes <br />Include. but are not limIted to. 1) water (quantity and quality), 2) physical habiwt (areas <br />inhabited or potentially habItable. including river channel. bottom lands, side channels. <br />secondary channels. oxbows. baCkwaters. and other areas): and 3) biologIcal <br />env,ronment (food supply, predation. and competition). The Service reViewed the <br />RtPRAP to delermine if it addressed these constituent elements and to identify eXIsting <br />and new actions thai will contribute to the RIPRAP serving as a reasonable and prudent <br />alternative to the likely destruction or adverse modification of crillcal habitat, Then. in <br />coordination w,th the Management Commillee. the Service recommended addItions <br />