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wa;"'/ .. multiagency effort are being shared with other agencies in the Colorado River Basin to assist in their endangered fish species protection and recovery efforts. In this way, this project helps pro- tect this and other endan- . gered fish species for gen- erations to come. I ' MULTIPURPOSE WETLANDS Through the Small Reclamation Projects Act program, the bureau's Lower Colorado Region is helping the Eastern Municipal Water District in Southern California construct a system that will reclaim, convey and blend wastewater with potable water for irrigation of agri~ cultural lands, municipal and industrial uses, and recreational lakes. With funding from the Lower Colorado Region and Denver offices, 20 to 25 acres of demonstration wetlands ill the project' area are being built to investigate their potential as alternatives to the con- struction of large, energy- intensive facilities needed to treat reclaimed'water. In addition to water cleansing, the wetlands ca,n provide fish and wildlife habitat and nesting grounds for waterfowl and shorebirds. The area also will provide recreational . and educational opportu: nities through bird watch- ing points, trails and inter- pretive displays which demonstrate the value of reclaimed water use. Construction of a small sampling area was com- pleted in September 1992. Riparian, marsh alld uplalld habitat plallts actively are growing with a 100 percent survival rate and ruddy ducks, mallards and other birds have established resi- dence in the research area. This wetlallds project also gives natiollal and international researchers the opportullity to evaluate wetlands' ability to treat domestic wastewater to remove metals alld certain orgallic materials. A group of technical experts from federal, state and local agencies, the academic community and environ- mental agencies helped develop the demonstration wetlands and are assisting with the study. NATIVE RIPARIAN HABITAT To meet its goals of effec-' tively managing, restoring and enhancing riparian areas adjacent to the Colorado River, Reclamation entered into an agreement with the Fish and Wildlife Service , to develop natural resources in the lower . Colorado Riverwatershed. The Lower Colorado regional office initiated a native riparian plant reveg- etation program to improve wildlife habitats. Such native communities have nearly disappeared and.the nlll)lbers of wildlife species associated with this. vegeta- tion are dwilldlillg. At severalllatiollal wildlife refuges along the lower Colorado River in Arizona and California, native plant nurseries and experimental riparian sites are being established to evaluate plant growing techniques. Seeds and cut- tings of cottonwood, wil- low and other native plants CRWUA T are planted in selected areas to restore depleted habitats. The first project ulIder this agreemellt is the developmellt ofanative plant nursery and restora- tion site at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in south- ern Arizona hear Blythe; California. These nurseries and revegetation sites are help- ing reestablish the native plant communities in the Lower Colorado River . basin. This should aid in preserving, and, in the. future possibly enhancing, ,wildlife diversity associated with the native vegetation of the river. Data from this program will enable other agencies to use similar ' techniques to replenish riparian areas throughout the southwest. . a.. __~>. >kl.4-