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,r 3 Project Cost The cost of Phase 1 of the project is estimated at $440.2 million (October 1991 price level). A portion of this will be repaid by state and local entities. Repayment will also be assisted by revenue from power sales of the Colorado River Storage Project, which includes Morrow Point, Flaming Gorge, and' Glen Canyon Dams. Archaeological Program A construction program of this magnitude will require an extensive archaeological program to collect and preserve cultural resources. Section 7 Consultation with Fish and Vildlife Service Section 7 consultation was reinitiated on the Animas-La Plata Project on February 6, 1990. On May 7, 1990, the Service issued a draft jeopardy biological opinion that contained no reasonable and prudent alternative. Under this jeopardy opinion, no irreversible action would be allowed on the Animas-La Plata Project. This opinion also prohibited any future water depletions from the San Juan River when any federal action was involved. This past year, following the Service's draft Biological Opinion, the States of Colorado and New Mexico, four Indian Tribes, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Bureau of Reclamation, project participants and special interest groups have worked with the Service to develop a "reasonable and prudent" alternative that would allow construction activities to commence on the project. On March 4, 1991, the Bureau of Reclamation submitted a memorandum to the Fish and Vildlife Service outlining a reasonable and prudent alternative, to allow initiation of project construction. This alternative, if approved by the Service, will allow for construction of the following features: Durango Pumping Plant, Ridges Basin Inlet Conduit, and Ridges Basin Dam. A total of 57,100 acre-feet of depletion would be allowed under this alternative. The Bureau of Reclamation will provide funding and technical assistance to study Colorado squawfish in the San Juan River over a 7 year period. The remaining project-water depletion of 97,700 acre-feet will need to be approved through future Section 7 consultation with the Service. At this time, a favorable response to the Bureau of Reclamation's proposed reasonable and prudent alternative is anticipated and a Biological Opinion that includes this alternative is expected from the Service in April 1991.