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<br />o <br />("'..~ <br />~ <br />r,-, <br />CO <br />Ul <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />RECEIVED <br />FEB 29 1996 <br />Colorado Water <br />Conservation BoBrd <br /> <br />FWS/R6 <br />GJ-6-CO-95-F-029 <br />COKANUT <br /> <br />Colonel John N. Reese <br />Department of the Army <br />Sacramento District Corps of Engineers <br />1325 J Street <br />Sacramento, California 95B14-2922 <br /> <br />Dear Colonel Reese: <br /> <br />This Draft Biological Opinion for the Red Mesa Reservoir Project (Public <br />Notice Number 199575042) has been reviewed by and prepared in cooperation with <br />our Albuquerque, New Mexico, Ecological Services Office in Region 2 of the <br />Fish and Wildlife Service. While the actual depletion occurs in La Plata <br />County, Colorado, the associated impact to endangered fishes occurs in the San <br />Juan River in southwest Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. The San Juan River is <br />covered under the "Recovery Implementation Program for the San Juan River" <br />(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992) for which Region 2 has the lead. This <br />biological opinion is consistent with the Program agreements administered by <br />Region 2. <br /> <br />In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended <br />(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the Interagency Cooperation regulations <br />(50 CFR 402), this transmits the Service's biological opinion for impacts to <br />federally listed endangered species. This opinion is provided to you as the <br />lead Federal Agency regarding section 7 consultation on this Project. Copies <br />of this opinion should be provided to the applicant. <br /> <br />Reference is made to your July 2B, 1995, correspondence requesting initiation <br />of formal consultation for the Red Mesa Reservoir Enlargement Project. The <br />Service concurs that the annual depletion of water from the San Juan River <br />"may affect" the endangered Colorado squawfi sh (Ptvchochei1 us 1 uci us) and <br />razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus) and "may affect" their critical habitat. <br />By letters to the Corps dated November 9, 1995, and January 19, 1996, the <br />Service requested extensions of time to complete consultation and allow"time <br />for review of the reasonable and prudent alternatives provided in the <br />biological opinion. <br /> <br />BIOLOGICAL OPINION <br /> <br />Based upon the best scientific and commercial information that is currently <br />available, it is the Service's biological opinion that the proposed Project, <br />