WSP09680

• File Number: 8282.600.10
• Description: Colorado River Operating Annual Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/1982
• Author: USDOI/BOR
• Title: Operation of the Colorado River Basin 1982 Projected Operations 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Ie CAP tacllltles corresponds closely with
.errltory of the HoHoKam culture, the
Its of CAP-related arche%glcal research
Idlng much to the knowledge 01 these
ent farming people. The HoHaKam area
ered in the draInages of the lower Gila,
the Sslt and Verde Rivers In the Phoenlx-
Ion region. The overview will not only
marize much of aur prasent knowledge of
ires, but will also develop an overall
arch strategy lor the project, This will
foe a be\ter In\egra\ed approach to
lIing Reclamation's responsibilities, will
eliminate duplication of eftort between
3Ct features, and will produce a more
:t1ve program in terms of research and
ervat Ion.

overvIew Is also making It possible to
llop a Programatlc Memorandum of
)ement with the Council and the Arizona
New Mexico Historic Preservation
:ers. The agreement w/llsat/sfy cultural
urea consultation requirements with the
,cll lorthe entire CAP,

ar a Memorandum of Agreement with the
;, desert wildlife populations along CAP
II allnements are being studied. These
les, concentrating on the Impacts of
lis on desert ungulates, are being
lucted by the University of Arizona's
leratlve Wlldllle Research Un I\.

Humpback Chub.

InformatIon gathered on deer use of a canal
wIth a record at mortalltles and success of
various escape devices will be useful In
planning mitigation for Iha CAP and other
canal systems.

The lower Colorado Region Is also
cooperatlng In a multlagency effort to study
the nesllng populallon 01 bald eagles In
central Arizona. The population of this
endangered species may be affected by
certain regulatory storage foeatures of the
CAP. Objectives of this study Include the
summarization of ex.istlng data and
construction of a model to evaluate
reproductive success, the determination of
annual prOductivity and population trends, the
determlnatlon of abundance and distribution
of fish serving as pray lor the eagles, tha
evaluation at the effects of human
disturbance, the Identlflcatlon of prey, and the
determinatIon of movements of nsstlng adults
via radio telemetry.

A cooperative study with the California
Department of Fish and Game /s currently
underway to evaluate the effectiveness of
windmill watering devices recently placed
along the Coachella Canal. Providing water to
desert mule deer at a site away from the canal
may reduce a significant mortall\y problem.
Preliminary Indications are thaI the windmill
drInkers are used by deer and other wildlife.

Deer mortality In the Coachella Canal was
lower during the 19S2 dry season (late
summer).

Work /s nearing completion on an
"Environmental Data System (EDS)" for the
Lower Colorado River. EDS Is a means of
cataloging environmental data using a river
mile IDeation procedure on Reclamation's
Cyber computer. MOdules currently In use
are vegetation community types and
structures, wlldllte (bird) species densities,
and recreation. After a 1~ to 2-year test
perIod, a decision will be made whether or not
to Implement several other aquatic modules
designed to be a part at an EDS,

Reclamation has recently Initiated a 2-year
aquatic study In the Yuma Division (Laguna
Dam \0 Morelos Dam) of the Colorado River.
The purpose 01 this study Is to gather baseline
data on selected physical and biological
parameters which can be used to describe
existing conditions In this reach of river. The
Information will be used In project plannIng,
Impact assessment, and as a base for
post-project comparisons associated with the
Yuma Divis/on Flood Control Project, The
control study Is being completed by Arizona
State University fishery biologists,

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