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<br />Environmental Programs [cont.] <br /> <br /> <br />itudles have also Invest/gated the distribution <br />Ind movement of desert mule doer and desert <br />Ilghorn sheep along the Tucson and Granite <br />'eef Aqueducts to determIne what areas there <br />iould be best used for oases, catchments, <br />rosslngs, fencIng, or 98Cspe devIces. E8cspe <br />amps, ladders, and steps are also being <br />tudled on an existing canal (Mohawk Canal) <br />) determine their effectiveness. The results <br />f these Investigations will have Bureau-wide <br />Ignlflcance tor lined canals with larga <br />lammel mortality problems. <br /> <br />,5-year study at the black bass fiShery In <br />ake Mead was concluded In 1982. The study <br />as revealed that many factors are causing <br />lack bassin Lake Mead to decline. ot these <br />lctors, two seem to be paramount. One Is the <br />ntrapment of large quantities of nutrients <br />pst ream caused by the construction and <br />perstlon of Glen Canyon Dam. The second Is <br />uctuatlng lake levels In Lake Mead which <br />dversely affect food and cover for young <br />9.88. With these findings, steps can now be <br />Iken to begin restoring and enhancing this <br />.Iuable fishery. <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br /> <br />;'" <br />;:~~+ <br />, ~ . <br />: 1;-:': <br />....i.'.;" <br /> <br />Pcwerllne!!l and towen. <br /> <br />A contract was awarded In August 1983, to <br />determine the value of backwaters along the <br />Lower Colorado River. Past Reclamation <br />actions to mltlgate for Impacts or enhance the <br />environment have allowed for construction of <br />80me backwater areas. The study will <br />evaluate exIsting' 'natural" and constructed <br />backwaters. on the river to see If they provIde <br />good fish and wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />In 1982, an envIronmental commitment <br />program was Implemented In the L.ower <br />Colorado Region. Thl. program assigns <br />responalbllltlesand sets procedures to Insure <br />that environmental commitments made In the <br />fInal environmental documents are carried out <br />during construction and operatlori of protect!. <br /> <br />Since Its Inception, environmental <br />commitment plans have been developed on <br />two teatures of the Central Arizona <br />Project-Phase A at the Tucson Aquaduc! and <br />the Salt-Gila Aqueduct Final Environmental <br />Impact Statements. <br /> <br />.- -" . ". <br />. .--',..--,-""" <br /> <br />. : --'.... <br /> <br /> <br />~~".. .;.:-;;~~-.;;..~.- <br />Deer usIng canal escape ramp. <br /> <br />Work Is winding down on the vegetation <br />management contract with the Arizona State <br />University. The work being done under <br />thIs contract has provided a data base for <br />evaluating the environmental Impacts of <br />vegetation management along the Lower <br />Colorado River. The final phases at the study <br />Include a comprehensive final report, a <br />description of vegetation and wlldllte on the <br />Colorado River and Its tributaries, a <br />revegetation study, a riparian vegetation and <br />wildlife madel, and a report on the utilIzation <br />of riparian habitat by desert mule deer. The <br />valuable data derived tram this study will also <br />be used on other projects. <br /> <br />Reciamallon partIcIpated In a survey of <br />potential habitat, In an ettort to determine the <br />numbers and location of the endangered <br />Yuma Clapper Rail. The survey covared five <br />dlvls/ons of the Lower Colorado River and was <br />conducted In May and June 1983. <br />Reclamation environmentalists have taken the <br />lead producing a summary report for this <br />Interagency effort for the past 2 years. <br />