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The FWS concluded in the Final Biological Opinion that the ALP Project is not likely to jeopardize the <br />continued existence of the Colorado pikeminnow or razorback sucker, and the proposed project is not <br />likely to destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitat. The FWS also concluded that the ALP <br />project is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of the bald eagle. This conclusion was based on <br />the description of the proposed action with full implementation of the eight conservation measures <br />described in the Biological Opinion. The eight conservation measures are summarized as follows: <br />Reclamation would commit to operate Navajo Reservoir to mimic the natural hydrograph <br />of the San Juan River to benefit endangered fishes and their critical habitat. <br />Reclamation would be responsible for maintaining a hydrology model and its data for the <br />San Juan River and the Animas-La Plata Project. <br />3. The Memorandum of Understanding and Supplemental Agreement to protect the releases <br />for endangered fishes in the San Juan River signed in October 1991 remains in effect. <br />4. The Durango Pumping Plant would be operated in a manner that insures that its <br />operations do not interfere with meeting the target flows recommended for the San Juan <br />River. <br />Reclamation would implement all actions necessary to prevent escapement of nonnative <br />fishes from Ridges Basin Reservoir in any water leaving the reservoir. <br />6. Reclamation would develop and implement a monitoring program for potential adverse <br />bioaccumulation of trace elements in bald eagle food items in Ridges Basin Reservoir. <br />7. Reclamation would incorporate bypass flows into ALP project operations to promote <br />natural recruitment of cottonwood trees along the Animas River. <br />All electrical transmission lines associated with the project would be designed to avoid <br />injury to raptors, including bald eagles. <br />Reclamation is currently in the process of implementing the conservation measures identified in the Final <br />Biological Opinion. Conservation measure 6 is the only measure that applies directly to the pipeline <br />relocation project. This monitoring program for trace elements would be expanded and incorporated into <br />the pipeline project mitigation as a means of monitoring potential release of toxic substances from the <br />pipelines. <br />2. PROPOSED ACTION <br />Reclamation has developed a seven-year construction schedule for the ALP Project, with completion of <br />Ridges Basin Dam during Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 and initiation of filling of Ridges Basin Reservoir in <br />FY2008. Federal funding for the first project year, FY2002, has been received by Reclamation. <br />Construction activities in the form of planning and design have begun, but before construction can begin <br />on the dam foundation, Reclamation has requested relocation of pipelines that currently run through <br />Ridges Basin. Pipeline facilities within the dam site area must be relocated to a different area and then <br />the old pipelines removed and/or abandoned no later than August 2003 in order that Reclamation's <br />construction schedule for the dam and reservoir be met. <br />The three pipelines include: (1) a 26-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline owned and operated <br />by Northwest Pipeline Company (Northwest); (2) a 16-inch-diameter Mid-America Pipeline Company <br />B-2 <br />Weeminuche Construction Authority <br />P.O. Box AA - Towaoc, CO 81334 <br />??as 0t.VCJG.V_ GV-.&vcL. <br />R - PAcG 14--S4 <br />i