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<div><span style="font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;" id="ydp7d602360yiv0360439523"><p><img alt="Reclamation News Release Header" src="https://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/images/nrheader.gif" style="width: 100%; max-width: 670px;"></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10px;"><strong>Mid-Pacific Region<br>
Sacramento, Calif.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10px;">MP-19-002</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:10px;">Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, <a href="mailto:eccurtis@usbr.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">eccurtis@usbr.gov</a></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">For Immediate Release: Jan. 2, 2019</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:18px;"><strong>Reclamation finalizes Klamath Project Biological Assessment</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The Bureau of Reclamation completed the Final Biological Assessment on “The Effects of the Proposed Action to Operate the Klamath Project from April 1, 2019 through March 31, 2029 on Federally-Listed Threatened and Endangered Species.” The document was submitted Dec. 21, 2018 to the National Marine Fisheries Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">The 2018 BA was written as Reclamation’s portion of the reinitiation of consultation with the services. Reclamation believes all information necessary to continue and complete the formal consultation process with the services has been provided. However, exchange of information will continue during the development of the services’ coordinated biological opinion which is anticipated to be complete before the 2019 irrigation season.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">The BA contains: (1) a detailed description of the Klamath Project and its operation; (2) a description of the specific area that may be affected by the action and the environmental baseline; (3) a description of Endangered Species Act-listed species and critical habitat; (4) a description of the effects of the proposed action on ESA-listed species and associated critical habitat; and (5) other relevant available information incorporated by reference and citation. The information in the BA represents the best scientific and commercial data available.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Reclamation’s proposed action analyzed in the BA proposes to continue to: store waters of Upper Klamath Lake (or UKL) and the Klamath and Lost rivers; operate the project for the delivery of water to meet authorized project purposes and contractual obligations inclusive of deliveries to national wildlife refuges; conduct routine maintenance activities on project facilities; and, implement conservation measures intended to minimize impacts of the proposed action.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">The proposed action includes a water supply based operational strategy and consists of a water management approach for UKL and the Klamath and Lost rivers that mimic natural hydrologic conditions observed in the Upper Klamath Basin. This approach attempts to optimize the ecologic benefit of the available water supply, resulting in the ability to maximize the amount of remaining water available for the project while seeking to fill UKL during the fall/winter to increase the volumes available for the Environmental Water Account (including disease mitigation flows), UKL, and project irrigation supply during the spring/summer operational period.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">Reclamation appreciates the contributions provided by tribes and key stakeholders during the development of the BA.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size:12px;">The 2018 BA and its appendices are available at <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.usbr.gov/mp/kbao</a>. For additional information, contact Laura Williams at <a href="mailto:ljwilliams@usbr.gov" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ljwilliams@usbr.gov</a> or 541-880-2581 (TTY 800-877-8339).</span></p>
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<p><span style="font-size:10px;">Reclamation is the largest wholesale water supplier in the United States, and the nation’s second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Its facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits. Visit our website at <a href="http://www.usbr.gov/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.usbr.gov</a>. Follow us on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/usbr" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@USBR</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/ReclamationCVP" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@ReclamationCVP</a>.</span></p></span><div style="font-family:arial;font-size:8pt;color:black;">Bureau of Reclamation, Denver Federal Center, Alameda & Kipling Street PO Box 25007, Denver, CO 80225 United States</div></div>
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