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BIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT <br />RIDGES BASIN DAM AND RESERVOIR <br />PRE-CONSTRUCTION FACILITIES RELOCATIONS <br />1. INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 Background <br />This Biological Assessment (BA) was prepared pursuant to Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act of <br />1973, as amended (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), to address project impacts to threatened species and <br />endangered species and, where applicable, their designated critical habitat. This BA addresses the <br />potential effects of the proposed relocation of three pipelines to allow the construction of Ridges Basin <br />Dam and Reservoir, part of the Animas-La Plata (ALP) Project proposed by the U. S. Department of the <br />Interior (Interior), Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation). The ALP Project has been the subject of <br />previous National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance and analyses, the most recent being the <br />Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) in July 2000. Endangered Species Act <br />compliance was established through a BA for that project (Reclamation 1999) with a Final Biological <br />Opinion rendered by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) in June 2000 (FWS 2000). The FSEIS <br />addresses all water depletions and actions associated with the ALP Project. This BA addresses relocation <br />of the pipelines in Ridges Basin, the proposed site of Ridges Basin Reservoir. <br />1.2 History of Section 7 Consultation <br />The Final Biological Opinion for the Animas-La Plata Project addressed effects to the Southwestern <br />willow flycatcher (Empidonax trailhi extimus), Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida), black- <br />footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis), mountain plover (Charadrius <br />montanus), Mancos milk-vetch (Astragalus humillimus), Mesa Verde cactus (Sclerocactus mesae- <br />verdae), Knowlton's cactus (Pediocactus knowltonii), boreal toad (Bufo boreas boreas), Sleeping Ute <br />milk-vetch (Astragalus tortipes), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), razorback sucker <br />(Xyrauchen texanus), and bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus). <br />The pipeline relocation project addressed in this Biological Assessment is expected to potentially affect <br />only the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and bald eagle. The Gunnison sage grouse <br />(Cenytocercus minimus) and yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) were identified by the FWS as <br />candidate species in the species list provided for this project, and are also considered in this Biological <br />Assessment (see Table B-1). <br />TABLE B-1 <br />Federally Listed and Candidate Species <br />ALP Pipeline Relocation Project <br />Federally Listed Species <br />Federally Listed Species <br />Federally Listed Species <br />Federally Listed Species <br />Federal Candidate Species <br />Federal Candidate Species <br />Bald Eagle <br />Razorback sucker <br />Colorado pikeminnow <br />Southwestern willow flycatcher <br />Gunnison sage grouse <br />Yellow-billed cuckoo <br />Haliaeetus leucocephalus <br />Xyrauchen texanus <br />Ptychocheilus lucius <br />Empidonax traillii extimus <br />Cenytocercus minimus <br />Coccyzus americanus <br />B-1 <br />Weerninuche Construction Authority <br />P.O. Box AA - Towaoc, CO 81334 <br />ANirnA3 GsLACIEIZ. Ce4VELL <br />a<A(a? r M - PACE k -53 <br />