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section 7 consultation will be completed prior to signing of the Cooperative Agreement. 5. The goal of the Service and the States is to reach consensus on issues related to stocking of nonnative fishes so that neither agency has to independently assert its authority. The Service and the States will make a concerted effort to resolve any disagreements that may arise from a stocking proposal. 6. The Procedures provide adequate opportunity and time for reyiew and input by the public. participants in the Recovery Program, and other interested parties. 7. Habitat and biological communities have been significantly altered in the Upper Basin. While it is difficult to fully assess and quantify, the loss of habitat and the adverse impacts of nonnative, warmwater fish species are both responsible for the decline of the endangered Colorado River fishes. It is not possible to definitively identify the relative contribution that each of these factors had to the endangerment of the fishes. In many cases, the proliferation of nonnative fishes was enhanced by habitat alteration, attempts to fulfill the demand for recreational fishing. and to fulfill project purposes for recreation. All factors should be considered to provide an ecosystem perspective in recovery efforts for the endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. 8. The Service and States recognize that nonnative fish stocking is an important component of public and private recreational sport fisheries management and commercial aquaculture in the Upper Basin. As. such, an important objective of these agencies is the establishment and maintenance of sport fisheries and aquaculture activities that do not conflict with recovery efforts for the endangered Colorado River fishes. 9. The States also have certain authorities for regulating/overseeing aquaculture activities and fish introductions by'private landowners. The States will incorporate these Procedures into appropriate State regulations. 10. Flooded bottomland restoration is a priority within the Recoyery Implementation Program. Beginning in FY-97, an acquisition coordinator will be contacting pond owners (along Green, Colorado, and Gunnison Rivers within critical habitat) to try and obtain easements agreements. The purpose of these easement agreements would be to compensate private land owners for allowing their floodplain properties to be used to benefit the endangered fishes. Ponds where an easement is obtained would have nonnative fishes removed. More specific criteria for obtaining and reclaiming ponds is being developed through the Program. Priorities for pond use will be integrated into the flooded bottomland and propagation components of the Program. Approved Program documents or future 4