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. . habitat to the baseline condition without penalty. The SHA must, however, provide a "net conservation benefit" from the management actions taken pursuant to the permit. The CCAA provides non-federal property owners with a mechanism to implement conservation and species protection measures for species that are not currently federally listed, but that could become listed or become listed as candidates for listing in the future. in return for the non-federal property owner's implementation of the agreed upon conservation measures, the property owner would receive an incidental take authorization, under Section 10 of the ESA, when, and if, the species becomes listed in the future. Both of these mechanisms have been used with some success in the southeastern United States, particularly in the forested areas that provide habitat for the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker. Generally speaking, these provisions of the ESA regulations have limited applicability in the western United States where the majority of lands containing federally-listed species or critical habitats are in federal ownership. There may, however, be instances on private lands where these provisions may apply and provide non-federal property owners with additional ESA compliance options. Bioscience Article - Colorado River Delta, Mexico Included in the Board folder is a copy of a recent article published in Bioscience (May 2004 issue) about the Colorado River Delta in Mexico. The article describes the current issues and challenges facing the proponents of habitat restoration and species protection in the LiInitrophe and Delta regions of the riverine corridor in Mexico. The article emphasizes the need to procure a meaningful and reliable water supply to maintain and enhance the riverine corridor riparian habitat and the estuarine ecological complex down at the Delta. The article also describes the current status of the Cienega de Santa Clara, and the potential impacts associated with operating the Yuma Desalting Plant, which would result in diminished flow in the Bypass Drain. Proposed Limilrophe Binational Wildlife RefUge On May 6, 2004, Mr. Harris attended a meeting of interested stakeholders at the offices of the Cocopah Indian Tribe in Somerton, Arizona. The meeting was initiated by the environmental organizations National Wildlife Federation and Environmental Defense, the USFWS, Cocopah indian Tribe, and Arizona Game and Fish Department. The purpose of the meeting was to provide all of the participants with an overview of the various habitat restoration and species conservation programs underway along the Lower Colorado River from Lake Mead to the Delta in Mexico. Mr. Harris provided a Power Point Presenration on the current status of the LCR MSCP. Representatives of several Mexican environmental organizations and federal agencies provided similar overviews about programs underway in the Mexican portion of the Basin as wel!. The Cocopah indian Tribe, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and USFWS are exploring the feasibility of the creation of a Binational wildlife refuge or management area within the Limitrophe Division of the River. 8