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/ I RECOVERY PRC3~RAM FOR <br />° ,-~ <br />John Hamill THE ENDANGERED FISHES Ralph Morgenweck <br />Director. OF THE UPPER COIORADD Chainna"' <br />Recovery Program Implementation Committee <br />U.S. Fish and Wiltll'rfe Service P.O. Box 25486 • Denier Fetleral Center • Denver, CO 80225 (3D3) 236-2995 Fax (303) 236.0027 <br />CR/FY-97 Section 7 Funds <br />Mail Stop 65115 <br />OCT 3 0 1996 <br />J.E. Stover & Associates <br />2768 Compass Dr., Suite 101 <br />Grand Junction, CO 81501 <br />Dear Mr. Stover: <br />On October 1, 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) charge on new water depletions <br />in the Upper Colorado River Basin increased from $13.04 to $13.41 per acre-foot. Under <br />section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, the Service issues biological opinions on Federal actions <br />which result in the depletion of water from the Upper Colorado River Basin. These biological <br />opinions contain the depletion charge as part of a reasonable and prudent alternative to the <br />likelihood of jeopardy to the continued existence of the endangered fishes (razorback sucker, <br />bonytail, humpback chub, and Colorado squawfish) and to the likelihood of destruction or adverse <br />modification of their critical habitat. Payment of the depletion chazge is typically a condition of <br />the permit issued by a Federal agency to the proponent of the project which will deplete water <br />from the basin. <br />The one-time depletion chazge is based on a projects average annual water depletion. Funds <br />received support priority recovery activities for the endangered fishes. The rate adjustment, based <br />on the Consumer Price Index, is a provision of the Recovery Implementation Program for <br />Endangered Fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />Our files show that Bowie 1V1me #2 (7/22/96 biological opinion # GJ-CO-96-F-011 to the Office <br />of Surface Mining on a 121.8 acre-foot depletion) may cuaently owe a depletion charge. If so, <br />payment (at the rate of $13.41/acre-foot if made by September 30, 1997) should be made by <br />certified check or money order to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, 1120 Connecticut <br />Ave., N.W., Suite 900, Washington, D.C., 20036. The biological opinion number should be <br />noted on the check. <br />If you have questions, please contact Angela ICantola at 303/236-2985, ext. 221. <br />Sincerely, <br />~~~~ ~~~- <br />Assistant Regional Director <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Western Area Power Administration Colorado Utah Wyoming <br />Environmental Defense Fund National Audubon Society Colorado Wiltllife Federation Wyoming Wildlife Federation <br />Cokxatlo Water Congress Utah Water Users Association Wyoming Water Development Association Cobredo River Energy Distributors Association <br />