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<br />r,~'~OI <br />v::j....:'.) :)~ <br /> <br />Wetland Mitigation <br /> <br />A- 5 <br /> <br />A.2.4.2 Ground-level investigations <br /> <br /> <br />Aerial photography will be supplemented with ground level investigations. <br /> <br />Initial wetlands delineation <br /> <br />During the summer of 1993, the Sponsors retained environmental consultants to fie1d- <br />delineate wetlands through the entire river corridor between Montrose and Delta. The <br />study, entitled "Wetland Assessment for the Lower Uncompahgre River" includes both <br />aerial photography and ground-level delineation discussion and forms. The report has <br />been provided to Reclamation, the Corps, USFWS, USEPA, CDOW and others. <br /> <br />In the year immediately preceding commencement of project operations, the Sponsors <br />will update this report following supplemental fieldwork. The extent of updating will be <br />based upon: <br /> <br />. the amount of time that has elapsed between the initial study and actual <br />operations; <br />. significant hydrologic events that have occurred between the initial study and <br />scheduled operational commencement; <br />. spot field-checks at several locations; and <br />. new aerial photography, if available. <br /> <br />The decision as to the extent of updating will be made in consultation with Reclamation <br />and the Corps. The (updated) wetlands delineation report will provide the baseline for <br />information on pre-project wetlands composition and extent. <br /> <br />Transect-based monitoring during operations <br /> <br />Aerial photographic analysis will be supplemented with annual ground-level, transect- <br />based observations. The Applicant proposes that the latter be based upon the BLM's <br />"Green line" method. This procedure was developed specifically for western, arid-climate <br />riparian wetlands, and has received relatively wide industry acceptance. The procedure <br />involves the selection of representative transects, and then annual observations at each <br />transect. In general, two transects are identified at each monitoring location: one parallel <br />to the river, and another perpendicular. Photographs are taken using set targets as <br />reference points. Stem counts, height and vegetative composition are recorded, as well as <br />incidental wildlife use. A reference location is also usually included, from an area not <br />subject to the hydrologic influences of the subject project. Year-to-year changes can then <br />be identified through comparisons of results, adjusted by data from the reference reach. <br /> <br />Sponsors propose a total of eight such monitoring locations: seven in the project impact <br />reach, and an eighth (reference site) upstream of the South Canal outfall. Greenline <br />transects will be approximately 200 feet long parallel to the channel, and extend across <br />the vegetated floodplain in the perpendicular direction. The exact locations of each <br />transect will be determined prior to project operations, based upon the following factors: <br /> <br />AB Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />JUly 2000 <br />