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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Colorado River EndaOl!ered Fish Soccies <br /> <br />The Lower eolorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) Workgroup <br />met on September 3, 1998 and the Steering eommittee met on September 24, 1998. Several <br />subcommittee meetings were also held since the last Board meeting. Members of the Steering <br />Committee briefed the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the LCR MSep program. <br />EP A was complementary of the program, but stated that it probably would not become involved until <br />the Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared and circulated for review. Representatives <br />from EP A will be placed on the LCR MSCP mailing list <br /> <br />I <br />Steering eommittee representatives also met with the representatives of Reclamation 's yunia <br />Area Office (Y AO) to insure that the Y AO staffwerc fully involved with the MSep program, and <br />to request that any information it has that is pertinent to the MSCP planning process be made <br />available to the program consultant. Subsequent to the meetin.g, the Steering Committee staff sent <br />a written request to the Y AO for specific types ofinfonnation. Members from the LeR MSCP Work <br />Group, along with the plan development contractor, expect to meet with Y AO representatives in <br />early November to further explore the coordination of efforts. <br /> <br />It was reported to you at the August Board meeting that Reclamation had agreed to look for <br />additional water for fish and wildlife purposes pursuant to Reasonable and Prudent Alternative <br />13 (b), (RPA 13 (b)) of the Biological and Conference Opinion (BO) issued April 30, 1997. <br />Rec1amation completed its' survey of interested stakeholders, including the California Steering <br />Committee, in August and prepared a draft RP A 13 (b) document. The document was circulated to <br />stakeholders for comment, and is now being finAli7M for submittal to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (USFWS) by October 30, 1998, in compliance with the BO. A copy ofReciamation's drnft <br />report and the Board's comments are included in the Board Folder. Essentially, the Board's <br />comments state that RP A 13 (b) is beyond the scope of the BO. However, since Reclamation agreed <br />to respond to provisions of the BO, the report adequately reflects our concerns and is sufficient to <br />meet Reclamation's obligation to the BO. Our comments also state that Reclamation should not <br />proceed further on this issuc until the LCR MSep plan is completed. <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder is a letter from the CVWD to Mr. Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of <br />the Interior stating that the LeR MSCP progriun should be a combined Section 7/10 process under <br />the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This issuc was considered at the September 24'" Steering <br />Committee meeting. Department of the Interior (DOl) representatives at the meeting assured the <br />Steering eommittee that the issuc would receive full consideration by the DOl and a response would <br />be provided in the near future, but no action would be taken without input from the non-federal <br />parties. <br /> <br />Included in the Board folder is a letter from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to <br />Mr. Zimmerman notifying the LCR MSCP Steering Committee that its Challenge Grant application <br />for six projects was approved. The Steering eommittee approved interim conservation measure <br />funding in the amount of$ I 00,000 to match the Foundation's Challenge Grant. The USFWS and <br />Rec~~on provided $159,385 and the remainder ($218,770) is to be sought by the project <br />partICipants from other sources such as the Arizona Water protection Fund. <br /> <br />4 <br />