WSP03308

• File Number: 8220.105.I
• Description: Colorado River-Water Projects-Navajo-Environmental Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/26/2004
• Title: Navajo Dam EIS-Draft Bio Opinion-US Fish and Wildlife Service New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Urld States Department of th~terior

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office
2105 Osuna NE
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]

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2-22-91-F-292 and 2-22-98-F-402

Memorandum

To: Area Manager, Bureau of Reclamation, Western Colorado Area Office, Grand
Junction, Colorado (Attn: Carol DeAngelis)

From: State Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, New Mexico Ecological Services
Field Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Subject: DRAFT Biological Opinion for Navajo Reservoir Operations, Colorado River
Storage Project, Colorado-New Mexico-Utah

This document transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) draft biological opinion
(BO) on the effects of actions associated with the Bureau of Reclamation's (Reclamation)
"Biological Assessment (BA) of the Navajo Reservoir Operations, Colorado River Storage
Project, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah." The duration of this action is from the acceptance of
this draft biological opinion to whatever time that reinitation may be necessary. This BO
concerns the effects of the action on the federally endangered Colorado pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus lucius) (pikeminnow) and its designated critical habitat, the federally endangered
razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) and its designated critical habitat, the endangered
southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) (flycatcher), and the threatened bald
eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). Reclamation determined that the proposed action "may affect,
not likely to adversely affect" the pikeminnow and its critical habitat, the razorback sucker and
its critical habitat, the flycatcher, and the bald eagle. We concur with Reclamation's
determination for the bald eagle.

After a comprehensive analysis of the information provided, the Service has determined that the
correct effects determination for the pikeminnow and its critical habitat, the razorback sucker and
its critical habitat, and the flycatcher is "may affect, likely to adversely affect." In accordance
with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (Act) of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.c. 1531 et
seq.), and the Interagency Cooperation Regulations (50 CFR 402), this document transmits the
Service's draft BO for impacts to federally listed threatened and endangered species as a result of
the Reclamation's proposed action. A complete administrative record of this consultation is on
file at the Service's New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office (NMESFO).