Laserfiche WebLink
o <br />sucker and result in thz destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. The Service <br />has developed reasor.~ble and prudent alternatives to avoid the likelihood of jeopardy to the <br />endangered fishes and to avoid destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat. <br />PROJECT DESCRIPTION <br />Bowie Resources Limited proposes to increase the capacin~ of Bowie's Number 1 Mine train <br />loading facilities under Technical Revision 32 to process approximately 5 million tons of coal <br />per yeaz. As a result, water depletion at the facility will increase 42.6 acre-feet per yeaz. The <br />Service previously consulted on operation of the load out facility for 64.2 acre-feet per yeaz in a <br />May 31, 1994, biological opinion (ES/GJ-6-CO-94-F-026). The facilities aze located in several <br />sections of T. 13 S., R. 91 and 92 W., Delta County, Colorado. Water usage will cause <br />depletions to the North Fork of the Gunnison River, a tributary to the Gunnison River in the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />Bowie Resources Limited also proposes to increase coal mining production at the Bowie Number <br />2 Mine from 2 million to 5 million tons of coal per yeaz under Permit Revision Number 3. The <br />underground longwall method will be used to mine the coal. Additional water depletion as a <br />result of the increased production will be113.0 acre-feet per year. The Service previously • <br />consulted on operation of the Bowie Number 2 Mine for 123.6 acre-feet of water depletion in a <br />September 3, 1996, biological opinion (ES/GJ-6-CO-96-F-11). The Bowie Number 2 Mine is <br />located in several sections of T. 13 S., R. 92 W., Delta County, Colorndo. Water usage a[ the <br />Bowie Number 2 Mine will also cause depletions to the North Fork of the Gunnison River. <br />BASIS FOR BIOLOGICAL OP12~tION <br />This biological opinion addresses a total average annual depletion of approximately <br />155.6 acre-feet from the Upper Colorado River Basin. Water depletions in the Upper.Basin have <br />been recognized as a major source of impact to endangered fish species. Continued water <br />withdrawal has restricted the ability of the Colorado River system to produce flow conditions <br />required by various life stages of the fishes. <br />Critical habitat has been designated for the Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail, and <br />razorback sucker within the 100-yeaz floodplain in portions of their historic range (59 F.R. <br />13374). Destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat is defined in 50 CFR 402.02 as a~ <br />direct or indirect alteration that appreciably diminishes the value of critical habitat for both the <br />survival and recovery of a listed species. In considering the biological basis for designating <br />critical habitat, the Service focused on the primary physical and biological elements that aze <br />essential to the conservation of the species without consideration of land or water ownership or <br />management. The Service has identified water, physical habitat, and biological environment as <br />the primary constituent elements. This includes a quantity of water of sufficient quality that is • <br />delivered to a specific location in accordance with a hydrologic regime that is required for the <br />particulaz life stage for each species. Water depletions reduce the ability of the river system to <br />