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19 bodies, Signing of the Recovery Agreement will indicate support for the implementation of recovery actions identified in this opinion, and will provide immediate coverage to those water users for incidental take, If water users choose not to sign a recovery agreement, they could not rely on the Recovery Program for Endangered Species Act compliance. Reasonable and prudent alternatives outside the Recovery Program would have to be developed. Monetary charges for projects to fund Recovery Actions which choose to rely on the Recovery Program will be assessed consistent with documents establishing the Recovery Program (USFWS 1987). Existing and future Reclamation projects remain exempt from the charge because they contribute annually to the Recovery Program. All other new project proponents undergoing individual section 7 consultations for depletions greater than 100 acre-feet/year are to pay the 1- time charge. New projects pay 10 percent at the time Federal funds or authorizations are obtained and the remainder prior to depletions occurring, Existing projects are to pay the charge for new depletions which have occurred since January 22, 1988. As additional new depletions occur from existing facilities that will have undergone section 7 in accordance with this biological opinion, a depletion charge will be assessed and paid prior to the actual depletion. The Service will continue to work with proponents of new water projects to minimize project impacts and look for mutually agreeable opportunities to provide conditions that benefit the endangered fishes, The Service intends to coordinate with the lead Federal Agency during the National Environmental Policy Act process and conduct informal section 7 consultation, as appropriate, This will reduce the likelihood of reinitiation of consultation on existing and other new projects that precede the subject project. STATUS OF THE SPECIES AND CRITICAL HABITAT Colorado Pikeminnow Soecies/Critical Habitat Descriotion The Colorado pikeminnow is the largest cyprinid fish (minnow family) native to North America and it evolved as the main predator in the Colorado River system, It is an elongated pike-like fish that during predevelopment times, may have grown as large as 6 feet in length and weighed nearly 100 pounds (Behnke and Benson 1983), Today, fish rarely exceed 3 feet in length or weigh more than 18 pounds; such fish are estimated to be 45-55 years old (Osmundson et al. 1997). The mouth of this species is large and nearly horizontal with long slender pharyngeal teeth (located in the throat), adapted for grasping and holding prey. The diet of Colorado pikeminnow longer than 3 or 4 inches consists almost entirely of other fishes (Vanicek and Kramer 1969), Males become sexually mature earlier and at a smaller size than do females, though all are mature by about age 7 and 500 mm (20 inches) in length (Vanicek and Kramer 1969, Seethaler 1978, Hamman 1981), Adults are strongly countershaded with a dark, olive back, and a white belly. Young are silvery and usually have a dark, wedge-shaped spot at the base of the caudal fin,