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Show Whitte River Bm project gevs biological okay The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has concluded that construction of the White River Dam Project is not likely to jeopardize existence of endangered en-dangered species in the area, provided certain conservation measures for the Colorado River squawfish are included. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), FWS, and State of Utah, announced an-nounced that terms of the biological opinion rendered by FWS could be met. The dam and reservoir project on the White River southwest of Bonanza in Uintah County is subject to completion of a final environmental impact statement state-ment and approval by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. But agreement on terms of the biological opinion was considered a major accomplishment, ac-complishment, according to the Federal agencies and the State. BLM State Director Roland Robison said both Federal agencies and the State were pleased with the spirit of cooperation that had prevailed during the more than two years that endangered en-dangered species aspects of the project were under consideration. "As a result of the close cooperation by Governor Scott Matheson and his staff with BLM and FWS, resolution of some complicated challenges was achieved," Robison said. "Especially helpful was the Governor's agreement to a one-year delay of the biological opinion opi-nion to enable Fish and Wildlife Service personnel to complete their study of the River." The project, proposed to be constructed con-structed and operated by the Utah State Division of Water Resources on Federal land managed by BLM, would feature a reservoir about 13.5 miles long with a maximum width of seven-tenths of a mile. It would have an active storage capacity of 70,700 acre-feet, with a sediment sedi-ment reserve capacity of 38,500 acre-feet. acre-feet. The dam would be approximately 129.5 feet high and 2,700 feet long. The primary purpose of the project would be to provide water for energy development, principally related to oil shale development. Water rights would be retained by the State of Utah, and potential users would build their own pumping stations and delivery systems. A 15-megawatt hydroelectric plant is proposed to be built at the dam, and the estimated annual 29 million kilowatt hours generated will be transmitted 10.5 miles to the Moon Lake Bonanza power plant via power line. FWS biologists found that the project as planned was not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered species of the Colorado River system the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, Uintah Basin hookless cactus, humpback chub or bonytail chub. The biologists were concerned about impact of the project on the endangered squawfish and recommended project adjustments to insure that continued existence of the squawfish was not jeopardized. The principal threat to habitat required by the squawfish had been- reduction of peak spring river flows, reduction of turbidity and silt load, and reduced annual flows. |