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<br />(") <br />':::) <br />(~, <br />1-' <br />(.1) <br />~ <br /> <br />reservoir storage releases to and through the occupied habitat; indication <br />that listed fish populations or their habitats are improving; and water <br />quality improvement are viewed as the most important elements of achieving <br />sufficient progress under the Program. <br /> <br />It is anticipated that Section 7 consultations will be initiated for all <br />existing federal actions within the baseline for the ALP that are subject to <br />consultation. The Service concluded that the reasonable and prudent <br />alternative will offset 57,100 acre-feet of depletion for the ALP in addition <br />to the depletions in the baseline. The operation of Navajo Dam to benefit the <br />listed fish will be taken into account by the Service in its biological <br />opinions on the depletion impact of these existing federal actions. <br /> <br />3.2.5.1 Prior to Comoletion of the 7-Year Research Period <br /> <br />While any Federal agency may request Section 7 consultation at any time, three <br />Federal action (Blocks 7 and 8 of NIIP, BHP-Utah International, Inc. 's Navajo <br />South Project, and an energy and/or agricultural project on Bluff Bench in <br />Utah) could cause major depletions in the San Juan River and may undergo <br />Section 7 consultation in the near future. <br /> <br />Blocks 7 and 8 of NIIP - Because the Program will not have been implemented at <br />the time the consultation is initiated, specific measures may be required <br />pursuant to the Endangered Species Act to offset the potential Federal action <br />impacts which are likely to jeopardize listed fish. Measures to lessen such <br />impacts, consistent with Section 7 (a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act, may <br />consist of, but are not limited to: 1) protection of reservoir storage <br />releases through the Navajo Nation; 2) NIIP modifications; 3) commitments to <br />convert water use that is currently in the baseline for the ALP to other uses <br />to the benefit of listed fish; 4) scheduling of flows below Navajo Dam to <br />provide additional water to benefit the listed fish; 5) assessment of the <br />impacts of any contaminants associated with NIIP return flows on listed fish <br />and a program to reduce any adverse impacts; or 6) implementation of any of <br />the measures listed earlier to achieve sufficient progress. <br /> <br />18 <br />