The Bureau of Reclamation has submitted a Biological Assessment to NOAA Fisheries and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for operations and maintenance actions at 12 Federal projects in the upper Snake River basin. The BA was developed to comply with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. The document evaluates and describes potential effects on species listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA, including salmon and steelhead, bull trout, aquatic snails, bald eagle, Ute ladies'-tresses, and gray wolf.

Projects include Minidoka, Palisades, Ririe, Michaud Flats, Little Wood River, Boise, Lucky Peak, Mann Creek, Owyhee, Vale, Burnt River, and Baker, collectively referred to as the upper Snake River projects. The proposed actions include storing and releasing water from Federal storage facilities, diversion or pumping of water, generation at Federal hydro power plants, and routine maintenance activities at these Federal facilities.

The document will be posted on Reclamation's website at www.usbr.gov/pn. A CD-ROM containing the BA may be requested by contacting Lesa Stark, Endangered Species Program Manager, in Boise at (208) 383-2260, or Chris Ketchum, Deputy Area Manager, in Burley at (208) 678-0461, extension 34.