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<br />2.5 SECTION 7 CONSULTATIONS
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<br />, This section ~S.~~~}ow Sec~on 7,C?:.tf.I~ti?ns under the federal End'aJ1gered Species Act will
<br />b~ cond~c~ed..1mfederal acti~nsc~tiAg_ th~eatened and ~ndang~~ed ~pecies habitat in the Big
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<br />, , Bend area. afttWluwclat.iG!lShipllf the Preg~";\ t~ Seetion 7 consultations. The general approach, 0 .\.\:. <. ~
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<br />" will apply to all future consultations. ~~r:' is BflJ'1'I. 41eh, ~e ~rogramYf~1 pr<,lVide the reason-
<br />able and prudent alternatives fo! new and; I!istoric ~ater projec~ -W~voi4'jeopardr to threatened
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<br />and endangered species.~n" t~ at: t any adverse impacts to whooping crane designated critical
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<br />habitat in the Big ~nd area. Consultation on federal actions not involving wa~r projects will
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<br />be conducted iAdElReRlIlS1HtJ by the Service. Reasonable and prudent alternatives on federal
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<br />actions other than water projects will be consistent with the Program to the extent possible, and
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<br />will support Program implementation. blJt ~he Program will provide the reasonable and prudent
<br />altematives for those federal actions.
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<br />Two significant federal projects are already, involved in informal Section 7 consultation}.. :t~:
<br />Bureau of Reclamation operation;of existing North Platte and South Platte projects; and ~ the
<br />Corps of Engineers' Tri-Lakes flood control projects in the South Platte Basin (Chatfield
<br />, \ Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, and Bear Creek Reservoir). Because of the,(special
<br />~.s.......- '1 responsibilities)of federal -agencies under Section 7(a)(I) of the Endangered Species Act, these
<br />r:-- ~\\\-e>' projects will be treated differently than other projects in the basin, as describ~ below (Sections
<br />'>~ 2.5.2 and 2.5.4). However, future consultations will be in accordance with the geooml approach OU~\:"LJ :'"
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<br />Kingsley Dam is in the process of being relicensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory
<br />Commission. The reiicensing is subject to Section 7 consultation. The Section 7 consultation
<br />on the current relicensing of Kingsley Dam will also be treated differently f~om the general
<br />approach, as described below (Section 2.5.3). However, future relicensing and other federal
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<br />actions affecting threatened and endangered species habitat in the Big Bend area will be
<br />conducted in accordance with the genMI1 approach to Section 7 consultations}(Section 2.5.1).
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