Laserfiche WebLink
The action area is defined at 50 CFR 402 to mean "all areas to be affected directly or indirectly <br /> by the Federal action and not merely the immediate area involved in the action." For the <br /> purposes of this consultation, the action area, as defined earlier,has been defined to include the <br /> mercury deposition airshed(Figure I in BA), along with endangered fish critical habitats within <br /> and downstream from the airshed along the Yampa and White Rivers. <br /> 3.1 Critical Habitat In The Action Area <br /> The PCEs of critical habitat are identical for all four endangered fish species and are discussed in <br /> section 2.5 above. Descriptions of critical habitats within the action area are provided below. <br /> The BA provides a map of showing critical habitat in the action area. <br /> 3.1.1 Colorado pikeminnow <br /> Critical habitat designated for the Colorado pikeminnow along the Yampa River extends from <br /> the Highway 13 Bridge over the Yampa River down to the confluence with the Green River. <br /> This is an undammed, free-flowing, approximately 145-mile reach. Along the White River, it <br /> extends from Rio Blanco Lake down to the confluence with the Green River in Utah. Within this <br /> reach, Taylor Draw Dam above the town of Rangely, Colorado, built in 1984, completely blocks <br /> fish passage. Although Colorado pikeminnow previously occupied the White River above <br /> Taylor Draw Dam, that is no longer the case. Colorado pikeminnow currently occupy the <br /> 106-mile reach below Taylor Draw Dam. <br /> 3.1.2 Razorback sucker <br /> Critical habitat designated for the razorback sucker along the Yampa River extends from the <br /> mouth of Cross Mountain Canyon to the confluence with the Green River in Utah. This <br /> approximately 55-mile reach is largely within Dinosaur National Monument. Critical habitat has <br /> been designated for the razorback sucker along the lower 24 miles of the White River as it <br /> travels through the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation. <br /> 3.1.3 Humpback chub and bonytail <br /> Critical habitats designated for the humpback chub and bonytail along the Yampa River are <br /> identical and extend 45 miles from the boundary of Dinosaur National Monument downstream to <br /> its confluence with the Green River. No critical habitat has been designated along the White <br /> River for the humpback chub or bonytail. Critical habitats for all four endangered fish continue <br /> out of the action area downstream along the Green River below its confluence with the Yampa <br /> River and below its confluence with the Green River. <br /> 3.2 Endangered Fish In The Action Area <br /> Broader population estimates, which may include fish in the action area, are provided above in <br /> the Status of the Species section. Additional information specific to the endangered fish <br /> populations and their threats in the Yampa and White Rivers is included here. <br /> 34 <br />