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<br />Leucochloridium sp" with 8.3 to 9.5% of the mature snails expressing sporocysts in August, 1995
<br />(Stevens et al" 1995), Potential vertebrate predators ofKAS at Vaseys Paradise include rainbow
<br />trout (Oncorhynchus ll'\Ylcis&) in the stream mouth, summer breeding Says and black phoebe
<br />(S~ornis SA)i and S, nii!ican&), canyon wren (Cathet:pes mexicanu&), and winter resident
<br />American dipper (Cinclus mexicanu&),
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<br />Impact.! to the Kanab ambennail as a result of the 1996 BeachJHabitat-Building flow
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<br />In a December 21, 1994, Final Biological Opinion (BO) the Service evaluated impacts to KAS
<br />from the operation of Glen Canyon Dam according to operating and other criteria of the MLFF
<br />contained in the GCD-EIS, They determined implementation of the MLFF would not jeopardize
<br />the continued existence of the KAS, This opinion also supported the concept of a beachlhabitat
<br />building flow of 40,000 to 45,000 cfs, which is part ofMLFF, However, the opinion clearly
<br />articulates that incidental take ofKAS will be exceeded ifmore than 10% of the occupied habitat
<br />in Grand Canyon will be inundated by high flows or a controlled flood,
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<br />In 1996 the opportunity to conduct a Beach/Habitat-Building flow in the month of March
<br />occurred. At this time the ROD had not been signed, and in an effort to advance the
<br />recommendations of the 1994 BO and purposes described in the GCD-EIS, Reclamation decided
<br />to conduct separate compliance activities, An environmental assessment was prepared to satisfy
<br />NEP A, and Reclamation consulted with the Service on endangered species, In the resulting,
<br />opinion, the Service concluded that incidental take limits could be exceeded, and developed
<br />reasonable and prudent measures (RPM) to reduce the level of incidental take, RPM number 2
<br />the Service stated that "Before another habitat-building flow, Reclamation will enter into informal
<br />consultation with the Service to evaluate test flow studies, the establishment or discovery of a
<br />second population ofKanab ambersnail in Arizona, and .."
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<br />This second population has not been established or discovered, however several efforts have
<br />advanced the goal of establishing such a population a great deal.
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<br />1, A Kanab amberSnail working group has been formed, and meetS regu1arly to discuss '
<br />and recommend actiOIll which will lead to the recovery of the species, . Members of the
<br />group are the National Parle Service, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGF), Fish and
<br />Wlldlife Service (Service), Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, CUP
<br />Completion Act office (CUPCA), the Phoenix Zoo, Reclamation, and at times the Bureau
<br />of Land Management.
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<br />Efforts Toward Recovery
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<br />2, The habitat at Vaseys Paradise has been evaluated and monitored, Habitat at minus
<br />ninemile and Indian Gardens in Grand Canyon, and at Three Lakes near Kanab Utah has
<br />also been evaluated, This worle, together with information from Spammer (cit) allowed
<br />for a better understanding of the KAS habitat requirements, The AGF developed habitat
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