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<br />project water through replacement, improvement, and management of wetland habi- <br />tat values by FWS and BLM. The loss of 338,400 use-days per season by other <br />water bird species will be mitigated through replacement and improvement of <br />wetland. <br /> <br />4. Nesting platforms. The FWS is investigating the feasibility of <br />establishing artificial nesting platforms for raptors as an enhancement feature <br />of the project. The platforms will not interfere with operation and mainte- <br />nance activities. <br /> <br />D. Fishery. The effects of project construction and operation on existing <br />or future fisheries in the San Luis Valley area have been revised. Existing <br />fisheries affected either directly or indirectly include those on the Blanca <br />WHA and the Rio Grande. Construction and operation of the project will elimi- <br />nate the trout fishery in two cold-water trout ponds on the Blanca WHA. A <br />total of 113.5 acre-feet of artesian water right will be provided for main- <br />taining annual trout production. The BLM will use and manage water provided <br />by the Bureau. Operation of the project will increase the flows of the <br />Rio Grande by about 120 ft3/s at the outfall of the conveyance channel below <br />Alamosa. <br /> <br />San Luis Lake will be stabilized at about 890 surface acres. As an enhancement <br />feature, it will support a high quality combination warm-cold-water fishery. <br />The San Luis Lake fishery will be maintained by a flow-through water system; <br />excess water will be pumped from the lake via the conveyance channel. <br /> <br />A maximum of 10 fishing access points will be located at bridges to be <br />constructed crossing the conveyance channel at existing county roads. The con- <br />veyance channel cold-water fishery will provide an average of 10,000 fisherman- <br />days annually. However, channel modifications to improve fish habitat are not <br />economically justifiable and are not included in channel design. <br /> <br />E. Livestock operations. Livestock grazing operations within the San Luis <br />Valley in general and within the project specifically vary from season to season <br />and year to year. Most of the 130,000 acres of land within project boundaries <br />are overgrazed and have been for many years. <br /> <br />After project construction is complete and revegetation has occurred, <br />approximately 1,000 acres of land will be removed from production. Another <br />11,098 acres of terrestrial vegetation and 8,460 acres of wetland will possibly <br />be damaged in terms of forage production. These 19,558 acres of forage pro- <br />ducing land will not be lost, but plants will decrease in density and vigor. <br /> <br />F. Structures. Construction of the conveyance channel will directly affect <br />some existing structures of the Alamosa NWR and Blanca WHA. <br /> <br />1. Alamosa NWR. The conveyance channel is the only major project <br />feature that would directly affect Alamosa NWR. As presently designed, the <br />channel will cross 3.1 miles (about 115 acres) of the refuge and will inter- <br />sect the existing Chicago and Mum ditches, two smaller lateral canals, and one <br />road. The ditches and canals will be passed under the conveyance channel in <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />,.. ~ <;,-. 1"'lo ':~" '''\ <br />L '... ..:<__ t;::; "bi <br />