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<br />effected by construction activities would also have <br />and have been accounted for in the irrigation plan. <br />wetlands adversely affected by project construction <br />8,460 acres. <br /> <br />been affected by pumping <br />The total amount of <br />.and drawdown pumping is <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />3. Mitigation. A total of 8,460 acres of various wetland types will <br />be affected by construction of the conveyance channel and roads (5,026 acres) <br />and water table drawdown because of project pumping (3,434 acres). <br /> <br />Replacement of the 8,460 acres of wetlands damaged by construction and opera- <br />tion of the project will be accomplished through the development, improvement, <br />or maintenance of existing or new wetland areas on Alamosa NWR, Blanca WHA, <br />San Luis Lake, and Russell Lakes WMA. Maintenance of wetlands in this case <br />means improving wetlands to a higher value and maintaining these wetlands at <br />the higher value level. The total value of the wetland habitat affected will <br />equal the value of the wetland habitat maintained, improved, or developed. To <br />accomplish the goal of no net loss of existing wetland habitat value, salvaged <br />water, water rights from willing sellers, and additional land acquisitions are <br />required. <br /> <br />a. Alamosa NWR--A total of 4,374 acres of wetlands will be <br />improved and maintained on the Alamosa NWR with the use of 5,300 acre-feet of <br />water annually. This 5,300 acre-feet of water as described in the 1979 FES was <br />to be supplied from project water. Under the present plan, about 4,500 acre- <br />feet of the 5,300 acre-feet of water annually needed for wetland habitat value <br />replacement will be project water provided by the conveyance channel. The <br />remaining 800 acre-feet of water needed annually for Alamosa will be purchased <br />from a willing seller within the project vicinity and transferred to Alamosa <br />NWR. The FWS will determine and implement measures to maintain and improve <br />wetlands. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />b. Blanca WHA--Project construction and operation will affect <br />198 acres of mid- to high-value wetland habitat on the Blanca WHA. This <br />wetland habitat will be improved and maintained with 891 acre-feet of water <br />annually. Waters salvaged from project operation will provide about 800 acre- <br />feet per year toward alleviation of the total detrimental effects on the Blanca <br />WHA. The BLM will manage and improve these wetlands through use of mitigation <br />waters. <br /> <br />c. San Luis Lake--A flow-through water system, using about 4 ft3/s, <br />will be provided as a part of the project to help stabilize San Luis Lake at <br />about 890 surface acres. The use of this water source and water from Head Lake <br />vicinity will provide about 890 acres of high-value wetland habitat as replace- <br />ment for the existing low-value wetland habitat. <br /> <br />d. Russell Lakes WMA--A total of 2,998 acres of mid- to high-value <br />wetlands in Russell Lakes will be developed, maintained, and improved with <br />management. About 1,900 acres of wetland habitat now exists in the area. <br />Wetland improvement will be accomplished by purchase in fee title of about <br />3,120 acres of private land and transfer of about 1,520 acres of lands under <br />the administration of the State of Colorado. The waters necessary for the <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />h <br /> <br />r. ~ '. ......!~',' <br />. ... L, ~ <br />v \, .\~ . <br />