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<br />43 <br /> <br />f. The handling and transportation of any endangered fishes will follow <br />the procedures outlined in the report titled "A Protocol for the <br />Handling and Transport of Wild Endangered Fish in the Upper Colorado <br />River Basin." <br /> <br />If during the course of the action the amount or extent of the incidental take <br />exceeds 3 adult Colorado squawfish or 3 adult razorback sucker as permitted <br />above, Reclamation must reinitiate formal consultation with the Service and <br />provide detailed circumstances surrounding the take. <br /> <br />The Service does not anticipate that the proposed Project will result in any <br />incidental take of bald eagles. Accordingly, no incidental take is <br />authorized. Should any take occur, Reclamation must reinitiate formal <br />consultation with the Service and provide detailed circumstances surrounding <br />the take. <br /> <br />CONSERVATION RECOMMENDATIONS <br /> <br />The Service has concerns regarding selenium, PAHs and other contaminants in <br />the Animas River that could be transported through the proposed diversion to <br />Ridges Basin Reservoir and concentrated in the impounded waters, deposited <br />sediments, and aquatic vegetation. The information provided in support of <br />Reclamation's request for reinitiation of consultation on the Project was <br />insufficient to fully assess the potential of the Animas-La Plata Project to <br />concentrate, transport, and increase availability of environmental <br />contaminants to fish and wildlife resources of concern. Therefore, the <br />Service recommends that a comprehensive environmental contaminant sampling and <br />monitoring program be implemented by Reclamation at the Durango Pumping Plant, <br />Ridges Basin Reservoir, Ridges Basin Pumping Plant, Southern Ute Reservoir, <br />and at selected water transport and delivery sites. This program should be <br />fully coordinated and integrated with ongoing contaminant investigations <br />linked with the San Juan Recovery Implementation Program. Following <br />compilation of sufficient information, and concurrence by the Service, if the <br />Animas-la Plata Project is shown to increase the availability of environmental <br />contaminants to fish and wildlife, Reclamation should prepare and implement a <br />remediation plan. <br /> <br />The Service has developed the following conservation recommendations to avoid <br />impacts to bald eagles. <br /> <br />1. The Service recommends that a bald eagle management plan be developed and <br />implemented. The management plan should include the Animas-La Plata <br />project area as well as the San Juan River drainage. The plan should be a <br />cooperative effort between Reclamation, the Service, Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife, New Mexico Game and Fish Department, Native American Tribes, <br />Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and local land owners. <br />Reclamation should take the lead in organization and development of the <br />plan. The plan should emphasize habitat management and protection, this <br />could involve acquisition of important habitats, conservation easements, <br />and instream flow designations for improvement of cottonwood recruitment. <br />Implementation of the plan is limited by the available funding from the <br />participants. <br />