Common use of Geographic Setting Clause in Contracts

Geographic Setting. The Colorado River Basin (CRB) is home to 22 fish genera, at least 35 fish species and at least 26 endemic fish species, some of which have persisted for over 10 million years (Evermann and Xxxxxx 1895, Xxxxxx 1959, Xxxxxx 1980, Xxxxxxxx et al. 1986, Xxxxxxx and Xxxx 1989, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx 1998, Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx 2002). Geologic isolation, frequent drought and flood, widely ranging temperatures, and high sediment and solute loads in the CRB created a harsh environment that provided a unique setting for the evolution of a distinct group of endemic fishes (Xxxxxx 1980, Ono et al. 1983, Minckley et al. 1986). The CRB is divided into upper and lower basins at Xxx’x Ferry in north central Arizona, near the Utah border. The San Xxxx, Colorado, and Green river basins form the upper CRB. In the lower CRB, the Colorado River flows through Grand Canyon National Park and forms state boundaries between Nevada, California and Arizona. Conjoining the Colorado River in Arizona are the Little Colorado and Xxxx xxxxxx and the Virgin River joins the Colorado in Nevada. The three species occur in both upper and lower portions of the CRB. The Bonneville Basin (Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Idaho) is an endorheic basin, wherein surface water collects from precipitation and upwelling groundwater, but no streams drain out of the basin (Xxxxx et al. 1974). Historically, the Bonneville Basin had aquatic affinities with Xxxxxx Bay, and several species stem from northeastern North American progenitors (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1996 and references therein). During geologic history, the Bear River flowed into the Upper Snake River drainage (Columbia River Basin), but currently flows into the Bonneville Basin (Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1948; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1996). The bluehead sucker historically occurred in both the CRB and the Bonneville Basin. The three species share several morphological similarities commonly associated with hydrologically variable environments, including: 1) fusiform bodies, 2) leathery skins with embedded scales, and 3) large, often falcate fins. Such morphologic features, combined with relatively long life spans, may be adaptations to the harsh, unpredictable physical environment of the CRB (Scoppettone 1988, Minckley 1991, Xxxxxxx 1993, Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx 2002). Life history characteristics, distribution and abundance have been described for roundtail chub (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1989, Xxxxxxx et al. 2000, Xxxxxx 2002), bluehead sucker (e.g., XxXxx 1977, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx 1980, XxXxx and Wydoski 1983, Cavalli 1999 and Xxxxxxx 2000), and flannelmouth sucker (Chart 1987, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx 1998, XxXxxxxx et al. 1999). Bluehead sucker are also discussed in Xxxxxx (1990), Xxxxxxx et al. (1998), Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (2001), and Xxxxxxx (2001).

Geographic Setting. The Colorado River Basin (CRB) is home to 22 fish genera, at least 35 fish species and at least 26 endemic fish species, some of which have persisted for over 10 million years (Evermann Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1895, Xxxxxx 1959, Xxxxxx 1980, Xxxxxxxx et al. 1986, Xxxxxxx and Xxxx 1989, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxx 1998, Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx 2002). Geologic isolation, frequent drought and flood, widely ranging temperatures, and high sediment and solute loads in the CRB created a harsh environment that provided a unique setting for the evolution of a distinct group of endemic fishes (Xxxxxx 1980, Ono Xxx et al. 1983, Minckley Xxxxxxxx et al. 1986). The CRB is divided into upper and lower basins at Xxx’x Ferry in north central Arizona, near the Utah border. The San Xxxx, Colorado, and Green river basins form the upper CRB. In the lower CRB, the Colorado River flows through Grand Canyon National Park and forms state boundaries between Nevada, California and Arizona. Conjoining the Colorado River in Arizona are the Little Colorado and Xxxx xxxxxx and the Virgin River joins the Colorado in Nevada. The three species occur in both upper and lower portions of the CRB. The Bonneville Basin (Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, and Idaho) is an endorheic basin, wherein surface water collects from precipitation and upwelling groundwater, but no streams drain out of the basin (Xxxxx et al. 1974). Historically, the Bonneville Basin had aquatic affinities with Xxxxxx Bay, and several species stem from northeastern North American progenitors (Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1996 and references therein). During geologic history, the Bear River flowed into the Upper Snake River drainage (Columbia River Basin), but currently flows into the Bonneville Basin (Xxxxx and Xxxxxx 1948; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1996). The bluehead sucker historically occurred in both the CRB and the Bonneville Basin. The three species share several morphological similarities commonly associated with hydrologically variable environments, including: 1) fusiform bodies, 2) leathery skins with embedded scales, and 3) large, often falcate fins. Such morphologic features, combined with relatively long life spans, may be adaptations to the harsh, unpredictable physical environment of the CRB (Scoppettone 1988, Minckley Xxxxxxxx 1991, Xxxxxxx 1993, Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx 2002). Life history characteristics, distribution and abundance have been described for roundtail chub (Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx 1989, Xxxxxxx et al. 2000, Xxxxxx 2002), bluehead sucker (e.g., XxXxx McAda 1977, Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx 1980, XxXxx McAda and Wydoski 1983, Cavalli 1999 and Xxxxxxx 2000), and flannelmouth sucker xxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxx (Chart 1987, Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx 1998, XxXxxxxx et al. 1999). Bluehead sucker are also discussed in Xxxxxx (1990), Xxxxxxx et al. (1998), Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx (2001), and Xxxxxxx (2001).