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<br />,MAY-15-1998 15:45
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<br />BOR LULND
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<br />9706633212 P.02/24
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<br />United States Department of the Interior
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<br />:\(ouma.ili-Pr.liric Region
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<br />FISH A.~D V.1LDUFE SERVICE
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<br />IN' 1DL't' Rlru. TO:
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<br />MAIUNG ..ulDR!SS:
<br />PO$( orne. Box 25~86
<br />ESjGJ-6-CO-94-F-009Denver rederal Center
<br />Ha i 1 S to P 60120 De"""r. Colorado 80225
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<br />STRUT LOCATION:
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<br />IS1 Union Blvd. i
<br />takewood, Colorado'802~8 ____
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<br />FroJll~'(\) \ Regional Dir,eGto",'~egton-6--! I
<br />v~ U.S. Fish a~dl4fI!"Serrn:-lr----1
<br />Denver, Colo'JOaGlr',._~._-----'-!.--'-1
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<br />Subject: Final Blolog~-cr-:j-Op.niOTT-"Rcnmd 11 watel!' Sale from Ruedi
<br />Reservoir ~. I
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<br />In accordance with sec~~7' of the Endangered SP~cies Act of 1973 (Act), as
<br />amendsd (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Interagency Cooperation Regulations
<br />(50 CFR 402), this transmits the Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) final
<br />biological opinion for impacts to federally listed endangered species for
<br />Round II Water Sales from Ruedi Reservoir. This opinion is provided to you as
<br />the lead Federal Agency regarding section 7 consultation on this project.
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<br />Memorandum
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<br />To:
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<br />Mi ssouri Reg-iOn; ..-----...,
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<br />Reference is made to your February 3, 1995, correspondence requesting
<br />reinitiation of formal consultation on the effects of the Ruedi Round II water
<br />marketing program on the Colorado sQuawfish (Ptvchocheilus lucius), humpback
<br />chub (Gili ~), and bony tail (iill eleoans), and the initiation of formal
<br />consultation on the razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus) and the recently
<br />designated critical habitat for these four endangered species. The Service
<br />concurs that the annual depletion of water from the Colorado River Basin "may
<br />affect. these endangered species and their critical habitat.
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<br />Between 1984 and 1987, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) formally
<br />consulted with the Service on the effects of the Ruedi Round II water
<br />marketing program (Round II) on endangered species. On June 15, 1987, the
<br />Service completed a previous final biological opinion for the proposed plan
<br />which included several "conservation measures" designed to offset the adverse
<br />impacts of Round lIon the endangered Colorado River fish. The three major
<br />"conservation measures" set forth in the 1987 opinion are as follows:
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<br />1. Reclamation will support biological research aimed at the recovery of the
<br />four endangered fish.
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<br />2. Reclamation will withhold 5,000 acre-feet of water from sale for
<br />Industrial uses at Ruedi Reservoir and deliver that water to the IS-mile
<br />reach on a schedule determined cooperatively by thl Service and
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