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<br />Together. these four species are the "target species" for the partnership, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The waters of the Platte River$erve the people of Wyoming, Colorado and <br /> <br />1'iebraska in many ways, Federal and'non-Federal water projects in the Plane River <br /> <br />Basin, including 15 major dams, provide municipal and industrial water supplies for <br />I <br />about 3,5 million people, irrigate millions of acres offarrnland, and generate millions of <br />" <br />I <br />dollars in hydroelectric power. These projects also pro~ide flood control, recreation, and <br />... <br /> <br />fish and wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />The Service has concluded that suitable habitat in the Central Platte region for the <br /> <br />target species has been significantly reduced by water diversions and other factors, such <br /> <br /> <br />as highway and bridge construction ana other changes in land use that have come with <br /> <br /> <br />e),.1ensive settlement throughout the Pl!jtle River Basin, Under the ESA, Federal agencies <br /> <br />must ensure that the water projects Wli,Ch they operate or for which they provide Federal . <br /> <br />permits or funds are not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any threatened or <br />" <br /> <br />. <br />endangered species or to adversely mo?ify critical habitat. If a project is likely to cause <br />these adverse impacts, its operation m~ be modified or other measures undertaken to <br />I <br />protect the species. . <br /> <br />Many water projects in the Platte River Basin are now or soon will be undergoing <br /> <br />, <br />" <br />a review of their impacts on endangered species. These projects include Reclamation's <br /> <br />North Platte Projects in Wyoming and ivestem Nebraska and the Colorado Big <br /> <br />Thompson Project in Colorado; the Corps of Engineers' reservoirs in the Denver area; <br /> <br />and a large number of non-Federal waJr storage and diversion projects, primarily in <br />" <br />, <br /> <br />Colorado, which require renewal ofperhrits from the U,S, Forest Service, Also included <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />. <br />