|
<br />.'
<br />
<br />.. '
<br />2,5,1 General Approach to Section 7 Consultations on Water Projecis'il
<br />, j , ,', I
<br />,-, "" '.h. ..'.,,,,,_."" ',_,q ~',~ \ .." '~/., \ ,~...f '. .;1
<br />
<br />SecUori'7(a)(2) of'theEsA, or-simply "Section 7" plays a rol~ i~both water use and endangered
<br />. ';' I'. ," , . -:~ ,"':': .;- ~'... ,,', -' ' . ..... . ! .:...._ 'i , "', T . ,"
<br />species conservatioiliiithe'Platte River Basin: Section'Tstiites that all (<:dew agencies must
<br />e-!ns'ure, thrOUgh'&;~~~I~tk>riWilh -theserVic~,ih~i anyat.ti~n'which~llie{authoriie, "~und, or
<br />ccirry out is notlikeiy to'jeopardize the survival-and recovery'Of"one or more endangered species
<br />. .',.. . . .
<br />.- , ",. '/,- " ' -, '. ..' ""'1' .
<br />and/or adversely niodifyor'destroy an endangered species: critical habitat. Section 7 is applied
<br />, ,
<br />J ''-1 . ."H ", " , ", _._.,-.. . -., .
<br />in the Platte River Basin because the Big Bend area of the- Platte River' Basin is existing or
<br />historic habitat tothreaten~ and endangered species and is designated 'critical habitat to one of
<br />these species, the whooping crane. Threatened and endangered species; deSignated critical
<br />, ,
<br />habitat, and species that are candidates for listing are shown in Appendix 6.3 to thisreport.
<br />
<br />, .
<br />
<br />The types of habitats to be managed by the Program (wet meadow and other prairie grasslands,
<br />riverine and other aquatic habitats, riparian woodlands, and croplands) are used by threatened
<br />and endangered species and many other species. 'The Program initially will focus on the habitat
<br />requirements of the four species presently believed to represent habitat management needs in the
<br />Platte River ecosystein: bald eagle, whooping crane, least tern, and piping plover. The specific
<br />habitat needs of othe~ threaten~ and endangered species in the Big Bend area will be considered
<br />as the Program develops.
<br />
<br />'~,'
<br />
<br />~"'~.;
<br />
<br />. ;."::'.
<br />
<br />'. - .
<br />The participantS'i~ the Program each have statutory responsibilities which cannot be delegated
<br />or abrogated. It is also recognized that the Program is a unique, cooperative, and proactive
<br />approach to conServation management of habitat and water resources designed to pr~vent the
<br />, ,
<br />need for the Service to issue jeopardy biological opinions through the Section 7 process. This
<br />, ' . -
<br />will be accomplished by accommodating the habitat and water needs of endangered species
<br />through existing State water law systems, interstate compacts, and decrees of the' U.S. Supreme
<br />, ,
<br />Court and by meetirlg the terrestrial habitat needs of the' species through land management
<br />actions.
<br />
<br />20
<br />
|