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criteria that will be developed as part of the terms and conditions to minimize incidental <br />take. The Service retains the authority to determine whether a significant decline in <br />population has occurred, but will consult with the Recovery Program's Biology <br />Committee prior to making its determination. In the event that one or more population <br />criteria have not been achieved, the Service is to first rely on the Recovery Program to <br />take timely actions to correct the deficiency. <br />The section 7 regulations (50 CFR 402.16 (c)) state that reinitiation of consultation is <br />required if the identified action is subsequently modified in a manner that causes an effect <br />to the listed species or critical habitat that was not considered in the BO. It would be <br />considered a change in the action subject to consultation if the Recovery Action Plan <br />items listed as part of the proposed action (Green River Action Plan: Yampa and Little <br />Snake rivers) in this opinion are not implemented within the required timeframes. Also, <br />the analysis for this BO assumed implementation of the Green River Mainstem Action <br />Plan of the RIPRAP because the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker that occur <br />in the Yampa River use the Green River and are considered one population. The <br />essential elements of the Green River Plan are as follows: 1) provide and protect <br />instream flows; 2) restore floodplain habitat; 3) reduce impacts of nonnative fishes; 4) <br />augment or restore populations; and 5) monitor populations and conduct research to <br />support recovery actions. The analysis for the non jeopardy determination of the Yampa <br />Plan that includes about 53,000 acre-feet/year of new water depletions from the Yampa <br />River Basin relies on the Recovery Program to provide and protect flows on the Green <br />River. Specifically, the analysis for this BO assumed operation of Flaming Gorge Dam <br />to meet the flow recommendations according to the Record of Decision on the Flaming <br />Gorge Dam Operations environmental impact statement (EIS). <br />The Service recognizes that the RIPRAP is an adaptive management plan that is modified <br />according to additional information and changing priorities. The plan is reviewed <br />annually and updated when necessary. The required timeframes include changes in <br />timing approved by means of normal procedures of the Recovery Program. In 2006, and <br />every 2 years thereafter, for the life of the Recovery Program, the Service and the <br />Recovery Program will review implementation of the RIPRAP actions to determine <br />timely compliance with applicable schedules. <br />Also, the analysis for this BO assumed impacts to peak flows based on anticipated future <br />uses of water, if water is used in a substantially different timing regime that adversely <br />affects endangered fishes in a way not considered in this opinion, then reinitiation of <br />consultation is required. The Recovery Program will monitor all new water projects that <br />deplete more than 100 acre-feet/year to determine their impacts to peak flows on the <br />Yampa River. In addition, the Recovery Program will monitor projects individually <br />depleting 100 acre-feet/year or less in cumulative increments of 3,000 acre-feet/year to <br />determine their impacts to peak flows.