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<br />, <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />.e <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />1 bcl~eve, based upon available data, that h?RS needs to retain the existing <br />6ecsc~al flow patt2rn below the Dolores r~v~r conflue~ce to ensure that <br />cons~~tion of this,project does not jeopcrd~e these endangered fish. <br /> <br />Tne Dolo~es Project \.;ould deplete 131,000 acre-feet of water in en average <br />yen=. To eo~ensate for this loss of ~ater from the river sYBta~. it may <br />be necessary thet sn equal voluoe be releesed to the Colorado P~ver from <br />o~e o~ tore projecta. Tnis alte~&tive ~~u1d preve~t the" Dolores Project <br />1~self frc~ jeopa~di=ing the e'~stence of the fishes of concern. <br /> <br />he are int~,sively studyicg the en~~~gered Colorado P~\~r.fisbes, but at <br /> <br />present ~e cannot reco~end sp~cific flows that should be-~eBsed. FDwever, <br /> <br />our studies =y reveal that flow releases totalir.g less th.an';131,OOO acre- <br /> <br />feet a."lne.ally are adequate for the fishes to sun"i'?e in tne-::irees lUld in <br /> <br />the n~ers'thst.Ye believe necessary for recovery. . ~y ~ <br />~ ..-...::: -.::. - , . ::~...-,-,,~ -~.:..:. <br /> <br />~ihen cll..'r Color~co"River Fisheries Investig<ltion. {CRFI) is c01:::111ete, \Je will <br />ieco~ond flc\Js for specific ~zbitat areas oftruiColorado P~ver in order <br />to pro=te co~ervaticn of the species. In the interim, we ask IiPR.S to <br />~ke vb.atever preparations are necessa:y so that -flow a.djustnte.nts related <br />to p~oj oct operation can be made after our study 'results are in and flow <br />reco::.::lenc.e..t'io=..s n:.ade. 't:,.. . <br /> <br />S~ce the a1te~~tive of rele2Sing ~ater fron e~sting projects has been <br />sut;;;e.sted in other biolobfcal op:!.nions and prcb::ibly ""ill be sug;gested fo~ <br />other ,~RS projects before the ~~r is conpleted,' h~S should 02-~ a finding <br />~~etbcr i: ~ill be able to release toe q,.~~titip~ of water needed: (1) to <br />=1:0 u;> the depletions caused by the ne.' projects, end (2) to ensure that <br />exist:.ng proiects do. not jeopardize tbe continued 8::Lstence of the endangered <br />___~"""-\"".....",,-.., y 'f.. <br />fishes. An ~-e;:,-,....a~ finding would assure thEt tbere ;muld be no i=eversible <br />or i=etrievable co...,..i tments of -re.BO=ces as is prohibited by Section 7 (d). <br /> <br />BASIS "FOR OPllITON -, Honjeoparfued Species <br /> <br />Pcrc~ri~e falcon <br /> <br />We concur vith your asseSSL1ent that the proj ect ........u not adversely iI:::;>act <br />the pere~~~e eyrie adjacent to the project area; however, we do not agree <br />that t~~ project ~~1l be beneficial to thi~ species. Tne increase in prey <br />species u',..."er and dive~sity that may occur in specific areas vi1l only <br />serve to reitigate the loss of 521 aC,es of riparian habitat and ~etlands <br />a9so~ated with Xc?hee and Dawson Dr~' Reser\~irs. 1nColorado, prey <br />epecies for perebrines are pri=rily blacl:'.oirds and ot'her passe-:-incs associated <br />~~th rip~=i~~ zones rztne= th~D ~atcrfuvl and shorebirds. Tnerefore, ve do <br />r~t believe it is npprop=iat~ to cl~ 5 benefi: for i~cre~sinb ~aterfo~l <br />b2c1tat below """.Ph"" D=. we ciso believe it is inappropriate to claim a <br />beLe.fit fer po~ent:!.a.l peresri-:l.c nestin6 habita.t belC'W" H..c_"'hee Da!j... :'Th1s <br />po::e.."1::ial habi::at ","'.ell be ll','nUable ","ith or Yithou:: the p-:-oject. <br /> <br />...~., <br /> <br />.. '.:: : '-- <br />