2003-07-31_PERMIT FILE - M2003001

Home Browse Search

~ f Feb 09 03 07:59a „~xr x ,ee Edith Savage 303 665 680t3 p.2 United States Department of the Interior FISH AND WII.DLIFE SERVICE F,cological Services 7SS Parfet Street, Suite 361 Lakewood, Colorado 8021 i IN REPLY REFER TO: ES/CO: ES/Species/Plants! SD/Survey Reports Mail Stop 65412 LK FEB - 7 2043 Michael S. Savage Savage and Savage 464 West Sumac Court Louisville, Colorado 80027-2227 Dear Mr. Savage: Based on the authority conferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) by the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et sew ), the Service reviewed the Ute ladies'-tresses orchid (S iranrhes diluvialis) habitat assessment report for Hall-Irwin's pro~tosed Nissen Farms Resource Site in Weld County, Colonido {Township 5 North, Range 67 West, South /z Section 12). The proposed project is located along the South Platte River west of Weld County Road 58. The proposed prolect involves aggregate extraction with probable post-mining use as mumctpal water storage. The Service fords the habitat assessment report acceptable and agrees that suitable habitat is not present S. diluvialis in the areas surveyed. Therefore the Service concurs with the determination that the proposed project is not likely to adversely ai3zect the continued existence of the orchid. However, if the proposed project involves a federal. action and elements associated with existing or new depletions to the Platte River system, forma -section 7 consultation may be required for effects to listed species and critical habitat in the central Platte River in Nebraska. In general depletions include evaporative losses and/or consumptive use less return flows. Project elements that could be associated wrth depletions to the Platte Rrver system include, but aze not limited to, ponds (detention/recreauon/imgation storage), lakes (recreation/imgation storage/municipal storage/power generatton), reservoirs (recreation/imgation storage/municipal storagelpower generauon), pipelines, and water treatment facilities. Please contact the federal agency associated with this project. If the federal agency and the applicant determine that there are depletions associated with the Left Hand Water Distnct's proposed pro ect, the federal agency should request mitiation of formal section 7 consultation in a letter to my office. A request for initiation of formal section 7 consultation on water-related projects associated with depletions to the central Platte River should include a complete project description including water- related project elements and origin of water associated with the proposed pro3ect. Completion of the consultation will be based on the date of the receipt the required informauon to conduct the consultation.