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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Coordinating Team met on Friday, April 4, 2003, in Las Vegas, Nevada, to discuss the <br />latest version of the draft proposal. At the meeting, the USFWS indicated their tentative approval <br />. associated with the Reclamation and States proposed package. The USFWS also stated that they <br />appreciated the overall quality of the package and the efforts of all the parties in the development <br />of the proposal. <br /> <br />The Coordinating Team hopes to reach closure, with a consensus-based agreement, on the <br />draft proposal by mid-April. The intent is to then turn the documentation over to the LCR MSCP <br />Technical Consulting Team to utilize as technical and policy guidance while preparing the draft <br />biological assessment for Reclamation and the draft habitat conservation plan for the non-federal <br />participants. The Technical Consultants are on track to have these draft documents prepared by <br />mid-May 2003. <br /> <br />The Coordinating Team is also working diligently to continue to refme and clarify the total <br />long-term costs associated with implementation of the proposed Conservation Plan. Currently the <br />costs are estimated to be approximately $614 million over the 50-year period. It is likely that the <br />costs will continue to be adjusted as assumptions are reviewed and modified based upon receipt of <br />additional information. <br /> <br />In a related process, the California LCR MSCP agencies have developed a proposed mesquite <br />mitigation package which was submitted to the Califomia Department of Fish and Game on April <br />I, 2003. Tbis package was a response to the February 17, 2003, assessment by CDFG that flow- <br />related impacts to mesquite required over 2,600 acres of mitigation above the amount requested by <br />the USFWS. Based upon a technical analysis, the California MSCP participants have determined <br />that there is little to no direct impact to existing mesquite habitat within California. Additionally, <br />the California agencies reviewed the proposed covered species and have determined that there is no <br />likelihood of taking these species related to the future transfers and changes in points-of-diversions <br />of mainstream water. Consequently, the California agencies have developed a proposal which <br />provides an additional ten percent (l0%) mesquite habitat to the total 1,320 acres proposed for <br />restoration through the LCR MSCP. It should be pointed out that the MSCP Impact Assessment, <br />prepared by the Technical Contractors, identified no impact to mesquite relative to flow-related <br />covered projects, and that non-flow covered activities resulted in only 590 acres of affected mesquite <br />habitat. The parties have suggested a 2:1 mitigation ratio for mesquite. During the Coordinating <br />Team process, the USFWS indicated a concern that continued degradation of existing mesquite <br />habitat could require additional mitigation. Based upon this concern, the agencies then added an <br />additional I 0% more mesquite, for a total of 1,320 acres. The California agencies proposal results <br />in an additional \ 0% on top of the \ ,320 acres, or a total of greater than a 20% increase in mesquite <br />mitigation acres. Therefore, the total mesquite acreage being proposed is 1,452 acres, of which 132 <br />acres would be the responsibility of the Califomia MSCP agencies. The California MSCP agencies <br />have submitted the mesquite mitigation package to CDFG and are awaiting its response. <br /> <br />10 <br />