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Page 2 <br />Furthermore, approximately 2,094 river miles of the Colorado River and its <br />tributaries were proposed as critical habitat for the four federally listed <br />fish. The critical habitat proposal was advertised in the Federal Register on <br />January 29, 1993 (50CFR17, Vo1.58, No.l8), with a final determination to be <br />made following an established comment and review period. Segments of the <br />Gunnison River are included in this proposed designation. The Fish and <br />Wildlife Service will consider any water depletion associated with the project <br />as an adverse modifi<:ation of the proposed critical habitat. Such a <br />conclusion would trigger conferencing between the Forest Service and this <br />office, as required by the Endangered Species Act section 7 regulations <br />(50CFR402.10). <br />Bald eagles are common winter visitors to Colorado. Statewide midwinter <br />counts by the Colorado Division of Wildlife in 1992 documented 835 bald eagles <br />at various rivers and reservoirs throughout the state. Bald eagles are <br />commonly found near permanent water bodies such as streams, rivers, lakes, and <br />reservoirs. As bald eagles are known to fly up to 18 miles (greater distances <br />may be traveled;) from night roosts to feeding areas, they are also frequently <br />seen searching upland habitats for prey or carrion. Factors influencing their <br />use of particular wintering areas include weather, quantity and concentration <br />of food, availability of alternate locations, and human disturbance. <br />The Northern States Bald Eagle Recovery Plan classifies essential bald eagle <br />wintering habitat in Colorado as areas that meet one of the following <br />criteria: 1) Locations used annually for two weeks or longer by adult or <br />immature wintering eagles known (or strongly suspected) to be from nearby <br />breeding areas. 2) Locations used annually by 15 or more eagles for two weeks <br />or longer. 3) Locations used by bald eagles during periods of extremely harsh <br />weather, when suitable feeding areas and night roost sites are limited in <br />number (the minimum two week period of use does not apply to this criterion). <br />Areas that are known to be used annually by bald eagles that do not exactly <br />meet the above criteria may also be important. We concur with your <br />observation that nesting bald eagles could occur along the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River. <br />The Bureau of Land Management should evaluate all activities associated with <br />the project to determine whether any of the above described habitats will be <br />disturbed. Any impact to essential wintering or nesting habitats will be <br />considered a negative impact to the bald eagle. With such a conclusion, the <br />Service would expect the Bureau of Land Management to conclude 'may effect' to <br />the bald eagle, and request formal consultation with this office. We <br />encourage continued informal consultation with this office prior to conclusion <br />of 'may effect" to the bald eagle. There mdy be opportunities to incorporate <br />project modifications to protect the bald eagle that would allow termination <br />of the consultation process without the need to formally consult. We also <br />suggest you contact Mr. Jerry Craig with the Colorado Division of Wildlife in <br />Fort Collins (303-484-2836). Nr Craig may have more recent bald eagle <br />inventory data for the project area. <br />We would like to bring to your attention species which are candidates for <br />official listing +rs threatened or endangered species (Federal Register, Vol. <br />56, No. 225, November 21, 1991). While these species presently have no legal <br />