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<br />:::. ~~'_-~'\, 'J:'-"-'~:';.Li'-;; " <:::,_,,"/,,~ _~-"-' .,'k.:;;__".,_,":_~,,\u;'" "_;L~_.-_~,;'_': C.~!.>>:~:. '~':';;::-;::'".'" '. <br /> <br />M <br />("w::; <br />0) <br /> <br />-. <br />, .' <br /> <br />(:;) <br />.:..;., <br /> <br />'," .......~-,_..: ~.'~^-'-'>-"- >'~"-"'-'-""--",', , <br /> <br /> <br />II <br /> <br />Representatives of the Service infonned the Engineer Advisers that the status of the <br />Rio Grande silvery minnow remains unimproved rrom 1999. They said there are essentially <br />no individuals found upstream rrom San Acacia and limited numbers below. They further <br />indicated that 250 individuals were found in one location in a special effort to provide stock <br />for captive breeding programs but that regular sampling efforts were finding only a few <br />individuals. <br />Corps and Reclamation representatives were asked regarding the status ofESA Section <br />7 consultations, in reference to the Commission's resolution passed at the 2000 meeting. That <br />resolution requested Reclamation and the Corps conclude those consultations. Reclamation <br />replied that it submitted a revised biological assessment (BA) to the Service on January 8, <br />2001. Service representatives stated that fonnal consultation is proceeding. Service <br />representatives were not able to provide an expected date for conclusion of the Reclamation <br />consultation nor were they able to report on whether the Service had detennined if they were <br />in agreement with the sufficiency of the BA and its description of Reclamation 's discreti?nary <br />authorities. The Corps District Engineer indicated the Corps had detennined it would proceed <br />independently of Reclamation to consult with the Service on Corps activities. He said the <br />Corps BA was in preparation and anticipated its completion in approximately one month. He <br />further indicated he understood the Corps Section 7 consultation would not commence until <br />the Reclamation consultation was concluded. <br />The New Mexico Engineer Adviser reported that the Middle Rio Grande Endangered <br />Species Act Workgroup (ESA Workgroup) had fulfilled its commitments as described in the <br />Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed early in 2000 by the NMISC, the New Mexico <br />Attorney General's Office, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the MRGCD, the <br />Alliance for Rio Grande Heritage, the City of Albuquerque, the National Association of <br />Industrial and Office Properties, Reclamation, the Corps, and the Service. The signatories to <br />this MOU agreed to develop a Middle Rio Grande ESA Collaborative Program for the purpose <br />of protecting and improving the status of endangered species, while protecting existing and <br />future water uses in compliance with all applicable laws. The program is limited <br />geographically to the Middle Rio Grande basin. The MOU commits the signatories to work <br /> <br />~.I <br />