Laserfiche WebLink
<br />. <br />. <br />0 <br />0 <br />("':) <br />-, <br />.... <br />to <br /> <br />18 <br /> <br />The implementation of either of the options identified above would not place further <br />constraints on other resource uses in the basin than already exist. The requirement for <br />federal entities to ensure that their actions are not likely to jeopardize listed species or <br />adversely modify or destroy critical habitat will continue to be adhered to for actions <br />regarding the razorback sucker regardless of this experimental program. The confirmed <br />presence of the experimental fish would not render analysis of impacts of proposed <br />actions more stringent than is the current practice. <br /> <br />VI. IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES <br /> <br />Although it is considered feasible that the stocked razorback sucker could be relocated and <br />recaptured should it be necessary to do so, the commitment of these individual fish to this <br />research effort is more realistically viewed as irreversible. With the exception of staff time and <br />funding that would be expended to support these investigations, no other irreversible and <br />irretrievable commitment of resources is considered a likely effect of the proposed action. <br /> <br />VII. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION <br /> <br />The proposal to develop an augmentation plan for the razorback sucker was approved as part <br />of the 1997 Work Plan submitted to the Implementation Program's Coordination Committee <br />at its 25 February 1997 meeting, with the request that details concerning the use of Mohave <br />razorback sucker be presented. The augmentation plan has been expanded to include those <br />details. The proposal to augment the population of razorback sucker in the San Juan River by <br />stocking hatchery-reared fish was submitted to the Biology Committee of the San Juan River <br />Basin Recovery Implementation Program for review and approved on 19 March 1997. <br />IntraService section 7 consultation under the Endangered Species Act for the initial <br />experimental stocking proposal was completed in October 1993, with a concurrence by the <br />three Ecological Services offices in Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico that the action would <br />have no effect on proposed critical habitats for the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker, <br />would have no effect on populations of Colorado squawfish in the San Juan River, and would <br />not be likely to adversely affect populations of razorback sucker in the San Juan River. <br />Similarly IntraService section 7 consultations were completed for the second stocking on <br />November 14,1994, the third stocking on September 22, 1995, and the fourth stocking on <br />August 12, 1996. With the exception that the proposed critical habitat for both species has <br />now been designated, findings in the subsequent consultations have mirrored that of the first. <br />IntraService section 7 consultation on the proposed augmentation plan was completed on July <br />31, 1997. The' consultation concluded that the implementation of the augmentation plan with <br />any of its options concerning source of stocked fish would have no effect on critical habitats <br />for the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker, would have no effect on the Colorado <br />squawfish and southwestern willow flycatcher, and would not be likely to adversely affect the <br />razorback sucker. <br />