The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) describes general and species-specific conservation measures for twenty-six covered species and five evaluation species.  Covered species are species included under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) incidental take authorization and are either currently listed or proposed for listing as threatened or endangered under ESA or are protected under Arizona, California, or Nevada law; or may become listed during the 50 year LCR MSCP term that are affected by covered activities.  Evaluation species are species that could become listed in the future; however, sufficient information was not available at the time the HCP was written to determine the effects of covered activities or to develop conservation measures for these species.  Species covered under the LCR MSCP include four fish, twelve birds, four mammals, two reptiles, one amphibian, one insect, and two plants. 

Major components of the HCP include native fish population augmentation, research and monitoring of LCR MSCP species and their habitats, maintenance of existing covered species habitat, creation and long-term management of new habitat, and adaptive management.  The plan includes conservation measures to raise and stock over 1.2 million native fish into the lower Colorado River and to create and manage over 8,100 acres of riparian, marsh, and backwater habitats for native species.  While Reclamation is the lead implementing agency for the LCR MSCP, many individual projects are accomplished through partnerships, especially with state and federal land management or natural resource agencies.

Updated November 26, 2012