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.,' EXECUTIVESU~Y Construction of Ridges Basin Dam, associated project components, and the filling of the Ridges Basin Reservoir will result in the permanent loss of 134 acres of riparian and other wetland habitats. As stated in the 2000 Animas-La Plata (ALP) Project Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS), Reclamation will protect, enhance, create or restore 1.5 acres of wetland/riparian habitat for each acre of wetland/riparian habitat negatively affected in Ridges Basin as a result of actions related to the ALP Project. Because of the potential to enhance and improve existing negatively impacted wetland/riparian habitat and the potential for willing sellers, Reclamation committed to making the La Plata River Basin our priority for compensating for this loss. Reclamation committed that 95% of the physical features of the wetland improvements would be completed prior to beginning Ridges Basin Reservoir filling. Reclamation has entered into a land purchase contract to acquire the property and currently has ownership of two of three parcels. Reclamation will effectively mitigate wetland/riparian habitat lost by the removal of livestock grazing from the river bottom, the control and management of noxious weeds, the introduction of desirable vegetation and the control of erosion of denuded streambanks. Reclamation will restore, enhance and create wetland/riparian functions' on the mitigation property by a combination of stream channel re-contouring in manipulated areas and replanting native and desirable woody and herbaceous species in both restoration and weed control areas. Bank stabilization will also serve to restore wetland/riparian functions related to stream energy dissipation, sediment deposition and water quality. Reclamation will ensure the protection of the newly established wetland/riparian functions and values by controlling access, monitoring and applying restrictions to use of the Mitigation Area (MA) and other measures as appropriate for the life of the Animas - La Plata Project. The ALP WetlandlRiparian Mitigation and Monitoring Plan for the La Plata River Corridor is only a part of Reclamation's commitment to mitigate in a manner consistent with the 'Ecosystem Management' concept, and will be included in the overall program involving upland habitats and an effort to provide natural resource values throughout the La Plata River Basin. Although Reclamation feels it's mitigation requirements are met within the Huntington property, Reclamation will be actively considering ways in which to improve conditions in the riparian zone of the La Plata River which are compatible with its mitigation objectives. The ALP Project WetlandlRiparian Mitigation and Monitoring Plan specifies how Reclamation will go about compensating for the wetland/riparian habitat lost in Ridges Basin. -I-