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<br />" <br /> <br />00234G <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />) <br /> <br />and a united front by all seven Basin states is desirable. <br /> <br />The public scoping meetings held in Yuma, Blythe, Laughlin and Henderson were well <br />received although attendance was small. The public scoping meetings were held to give the public <br />the opportunity to provide comments on the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation <br />Program (LCR MSCP) NEP AlCEQA process. The comment period was to end August 28, 2000, <br />but has been extended for another 30 days by the Bureau of Reclamation. <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder is a letter from Mr. Zimmerman, Mr. Caan and Ms. Rita Pearson <br />Maguire to Mr. Robert Johnson and Ms. Nancy Kaufman discussing several areas of concern <br />regarding the LCR MSCP. Concerns include: size of the project, extraordinary flow releases, <br />Mexico, bankline and levee modification, and the role of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(USFWS) Refuges (regarding the LCR MSCP). These issues were discussed in a meeting between <br />the State and Federal partners on August 21,2000. A figure of80,000 acres of new habitats has been <br />used by some Federal staff people causing concern because it would be too costly and take too much <br />agriculture out of production. Ms. Kaufman stated that acreage was not the major factor for species <br />but species needs and the quality of habitat and management would probably be the determining <br />factors. <br /> <br />Extraordinary flows of up to 40,000 cfs are also of concern because too much water would <br />be lost without any real benefits of over bank flooding, as well as the extensive property damage that <br />would occur. Mr. Johnson stated that high flows of this nature should not be considered. <br /> <br />Concerns regarding ESA consultation on U.S. listed species in Mexico were discussed <br />without resolution. This issue will be discussed further in the future. <br /> <br />The removal or set-back ofbanklines or levees was discussed with the understanding that an <br />analysis of costs, benefits, and alternatives would be needed before any proposal was considered. <br />The role of Refuges in the LCR MSCP was also discussed by Ms. Kaufman referencing a USFWS <br />policy that refuges cannot be used for mitigation. However, Refuges may be used for enhancement. <br />It was suggested that this policy should be reconsidered because USFWS refuges on the Lower <br />Colorado River provide a major component of the remaining habitat and they could benefit <br />significantly from the LCR MSCP. <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder are copies of letters from Mr. Zimmerman to Senators <br />Domenici, Reid, Feinstein and Representative Packard requesting their support of Reclamation's <br />Lower Colorado River Operations Program (LCROP) budget for fiscal year 200 I in the amount of <br />$13,729,000. Funds needed by Reclamation to implement the reasonable and prudent alternatives <br />and reasonable and prudent measures that have been included in Biological Opinions come from the <br />LCROP budget item. <br /> <br />Also included in the Board folder is a Briefing Paper on extraterritorial application of the <br />ESA. This briefing paper is intended to be used to inform Congressional representatives and others <br />of our position, as well as, the application of ESA in Mexico. It also points out the potential <br />ramifications of extending its application. <br /> <br />5 <br />