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<br />Record of Decisi'-'- 4 <br />Salinity control~ogram <br />for Moapa Valley unit <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Lower participation would reduce calculated salinity <br />benefits from Moapa Valley but would still result in a <br />significant salt load reduction in the Colorado River. <br /> <br />Another concern was for enforced replacement of habitat <br />values lost by implementation of the project. This is <br />addressed in the EIS by the legislatively mandated voluntary <br />replacement program which includes all participants as well <br />as the OWMA. <br /> <br />III. Conclusion <br /> <br />The following conclusions were reached after carefully <br />reviewing the proposed Recommended Plan and comparing it <br />with national goals and policies, particularly those <br />expressed in the National Environmental Policy Act, and <br />evaluating the merits of possible alternatives to the <br />project: <br /> <br />A. The Recommended Plan will employ reasonable and <br />practicable means consistent with the National <br />Environmental policy Act while permitting the <br />application of other national policies and interests. <br />These means include, but are not limited to, a project <br />planned and designed to minimize adverse effects on the <br />natural environment, while accomplishing the authorized <br />environmental purpose. Features of the Recommended Plan <br />designed to preserve, enhance, or replace existing <br />environmental values for future generations include: <br /> <br />1. Improved efficiency of irrigation systems to <br />reduce salinity concentrations (improve water <br />quality) in the Colorado River. <br /> <br />2. Where possible, impacts to existing wildlife habitat <br />will be avoided or minimized and management to <br />enhance wildlife values will be encouraged. <br /> <br />3. Replacement of wildlife habitat will be provided by <br />the voluntary installation of practices by <br />individuals throughout the Moapa Valley. In <br />addition, the OWMA has specific lands that can be <br />enhanced with increased water supply to offset <br />remaining losses of both wetland and upland <br />habitats. <br /> <br />4. Voluntary replacement of wildlife habitat onfarm and <br />off-farm by eligible program participants will be <br />cost-shared at 70 percent federal and 30 percent <br />local. The 30 percent local cost-share for <br />installation of salinity control measures and <br />voluntary replacement of wildlife habitat values can <br />be in the form of either a cash or non-cash <br />contribution. <br /> <br />002G64 <br />