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21 <br />endaneered fishes. T o the extent that the Project will reduce flows, the ability of the river to <br />provide these functions will be reduced. <br />Bioloeical Environment <br />The modification of tlo~v regimes, water temperatures, sediment levels; and other habitat <br />conditions caused by water depletions has contributed to the establishment of nonnative fishes. <br />To the extent that it would reduce flows and contribute to further habitat alteration, the Project <br />would contribute to an increase in nonnative fish populations. Endangered fishes would <br />experience increased competition and predation as a result. <br />Sutnmarv <br />The Service has concluded that the depletion of water caused by the Project will impact the <br />primary constituent elements necessary for the survival and recovery of endangered fishes in the <br />Upper Basin. Without actions taken to offset impacts, further flow reductions aze likely to <br />jeopazdize the continued existence of the endangered fishes and adversely modify or destroy their <br />critical habitat. The Gunnison River is an essential component of the habitat of the endangered <br />• fishes in the Colorado River Basin and is important in ensuring survival of these species in the <br />event populations are lost in other subbasins as a result of catastrophic events such as oil spills. <br />REASONABLE AMID PRUDENT ALTERNATIVE <br />Regulations (50 CFR 402.02) implementing section 7 of the Act define reasonable and prudent <br />alternatives as alternative actions, identified during formal consultation, that: (1) can be . <br />implemented in a manner consistent with the intended purpose of the action; (2) can be <br />implemented consistent with the scope of the action agency's legal authority and jurisdiction; (3) <br />aze economically and technologically feasible; and (4) would, the Service believes, avoid the <br />likelihood of jeopardizing the continued existence of listed species or resulting in the destruction <br />or adverse modification of critical habitat. <br />Background <br />On January 21-22, 1988, the Secretary of the Interior; the Governors of Wyoming, Colorado, and <br />Utah; and the Administrator of the Western Area Power Administration were cosigners of a <br />Cooperative Agreement to implement the "Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered <br />Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin" (LJ.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). An <br />objective of the Recovery Program was to recover the listed species while providing for new <br />~va•~-development in the Upper T' asin. <br />• In order to further define and clarify processes outlined in sections 4.1.x, 4.1.6, and x.3.4 of the <br />Recovery Program, a Section 7 Agreement and a Recovery Implementation Program Recovery <br />Action Plan was developed (tJ.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). The Agreement establishes a <br />