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t I I a I I I , I I I I II I I, I I I I 033195 In Colorado, the Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocepha/us), a Federally and State Threatened species, is nonnaIIy found near major waterways and larger lakes where adequate food supplies may be found. The Bald Eagle is known to occur along the Arkansas River, primarily during the late fall and winter months from November to mid-March. The Bald Eagle utilizes large trees for perching and forages primarily for fish, ducks, and carrion along the Arkansas River and at the plains reservoirs. Due to their ease of mobility and the seasonal residency, there would be no effect on the Bald Eagle. The Bald Eagle is currently being considered by the USFWS for removal from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife in the lower 48 States of the United States (Federal Register 1999). The Whooping Crane (Grus americana) is a Federal and State Endangered species. Whooping Crane are known to migrate from Canada to the Texas gulf coast using the central flyway through the central portion of the Great Plains states. Sandhill Crane migrate through southeastern Colorado and Whooping Crane are known to migrate with Sandhill Crane; however, if Whooping Crane did occur in southeastern Colorado, they would be migrating or be considered a vagrant and would not stay in the area for any length of time. Therefore, there would be no effect on Whooping Crane from any of the alternatives. The Interior Least Tern (Sterna anti/larum), federally and state endangered, and the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus), federally and state threatened, are species that prefer sparsely vegetated, river sand bars and islands, and reservoir shorelines and occur primarily in the eastern part of the state (Nelson 1998; Kingery 1998). The Interior Least Tern and the Piping Plover are known to share the same limited nesting habitat in Bent County, southeastern Colorado. The Piping Plover and Interior Least Tern arrive in the area by mid-April and are known to occur, nest and fledge at John Martin Reservoir. The John Martin Project is the only place in Colorado where Piping Plover are known to nest. The last fledglings of either terns or plovers may not fledge until mid-September (Nelson 1998; Kingery 1998). Interior Least Terns have also been seen fish foraging at Lake Hasty, immediately below the Dam, which is adjacent to the Lake Hasty Recreation Area and campground; however, they do not appear to be disturbed by the presence of campers, vehicles, swimmers, and fisherman while foraging. Conservation efforts at the John Martin Project to protect the Interior Least Tern and the Piping Plover are coordinated between the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Corps, and the U,S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with many other entities such as the Colorado Bird Observatory offering support. Conservation efforts include monitoring, research, and temporary closures to public access. Portions of John Martin Reservoir are temporarily closed to public access seasonally as the birds select habitat that is utilized for mating and nesting. Annual monitoring and research has been conducted and documented by Duane Nelson (2000, 1999, 1998) and conservation efforts have included habitat construction, such as modifications that were made to an island at John Martin Reservoir, now known as Tern Island (Nelson and Yost 1998). Tern Island is located northwest of the Overlook Day-Use Area and east of the waterfowl closure line (Figure 2), and is 3,200 feet west of the Overlook access road. Tern Island is seasonally closed to public access to protect nesting birds, as are portions of the South Beach area where both least terns and piping plovers nest. 28