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<br />091459 <br /> <br />contribution of selenium and salts. The Service has recommended monitoring of selenium in <br />return flows from the new lands to verifY this conclusion and this has been included as part of the <br />proposed plan. <br /> <br />In the Dolores and Colorado rivers, the Service concurred that increased salinity concentrations <br />may affect, but will not adversely affect, the endangered fish due to insignificant impacts relative <br />to decreased dilution by the 8,000 acre-foot depletion. The Service has concurred that the annual <br />depletion of water from the Upper Colorado River may affect and is likely to adversely affect the <br />four downstream endangered fish species; while accretions to the San Juan River Basin would be <br />beneficial and thus not likely to adversely affect the San Juan River species. As discussed in the <br />hydrology paragraphs of this EA, the water involved in the Carriage Contract was lransbasin <br />diversion water historically used for irrigation in the McElmo ereek drainage. It was a 100 <br />percent depletion from the Dolores system, because return flows all entered the San Juan River. <br />As irrigation system efficiencies increased and subdivision development occurred, the loss of <br />water from seepage, deep percolation, and phreatophyte use was reduced and the water became <br />excess to MVIC's needs. Under the Carriage Contract, the water would continue to be depleted <br />from the Dolores system and used for irrigation. This would also likely occur under the No <br />Action alternative. <br /> <br />The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish Species is intended to recover the endangered fishes. <br />A Section 7 Consultation, Sufficient Progress, and Historic Projects Agreement (Fish and <br />Wildlife Service, 1993) describes how historic depletions such as those being considered in this <br />EA are to be handled in accordance with the ESA. Under this Historic Projects Agreement, the ' <br />Recovery Program is intended to offset both the direct and indirect depletion impacts of historic <br />projects occurring prior to 1988. Depletion charges or other measures will not be required from <br />historic projects which undergo Section 7 Consultation. Under the 1993 Agreement, the Service <br />will rely on Recovery Program actions (RIPRAP) to avoid jeopardy. For historic depletions, <br />such as those being considered in this EA, the identified RIPRAP actions will serve as the <br />reasonable and prudent alternative as long as they are completed according to the schedule <br />contained in the most recent RIPRAP report. The Carriage Contract would continue the historic <br />depletion of 6,000 - 8,000 acre feet from the Dolores River. In conclusion, based on this <br />analysis, and consistent with regulations in 50 CFR 402.13, the Carriage Contract may affect <br />endangered fish species and their critical habitat in the Colorado River and the depletions are <br />addressed by existing agreements under the Recovery Program. <br /> <br />Recreation and Social and Economic Factors <br /> <br />The population of Montezuma County is low, around 23,000 people, but the population growth <br />rate during the 1990's was twice the national average. Tourism, agriculture, and energy <br />industries are the major economic factors. Major tourism locations are Mesa Verde National <br />Park and Hovenweep National Monument. <br /> <br />The Carriage Contract would facilitate an increase in the irrigated acreage in Montezuma County, <br />thus increasing the market value of agriculture production and strengthening this sector of the <br /> <br />14 <br />