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<br />000942 <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />Conclusion <br /> <br />In light of cumulative Program accomplishments, some Recovery Program participants have <br />asked the Service to consider increasing the "per project depletion threshold" from the previous <br />3,000 acre feet. Based on this request, careful evaluation of the status of the fish, adequacy of <br />flows needed for recovery, magnitude of depletion impacts, and cumulative Recovery Program <br />accomplishments and shortcomings, the Service concludes that progress in the Recovery <br />Program is sufficient for projects that have an annual depletion of up to 4,500 acre feet. In <br />reality, the Recovery Program relies more and more on programmatic biological opinions than <br />upon this "per project depletion threshold." For example the 15-Mile Reach PBO raises the <br />cumulative depletion threshold on the Colorado River to 120,000 acre-feet. When the <br />Gunnison, Yampa, and tributary PBOs are completed, the "per project depletion threshold" will <br />essentially become obsolete. Nonetheless, we believe that raising the threshold can be viewed as <br />recognition of the progress being made by the Recovery Program, which has become a national <br />model in cooperatively progressing towards recovery of endangered species while address the <br />demand for water development to support growing western communities. <br /> <br />I am encouraged with the progress the Recovery Program made in 2000 and efforts accomplished <br />so far this year. Recovery Program participants need to actively pursue resolution of the issues <br />identified above, and I ask that a report of progress in these areas be provided to the <br />Implementation Committee at their September meeting. I am confident that with continued <br />cooperation by all Recovery Program participants, the Program will continue to make significant <br />strides toward recovery of the four endangered fishes. <br /> <br />4(~. <br /> <br /> <br />Attachment <br /> <br />:(e \ <br />\O"~ <br />~ e"" <br />de~" ~o~ <br /><.. ~~b \0" <br />Y <br />