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<br />6 <br /> <br />2. All temporary roads and access points would be recontoured and reseeded to reduce erosion. <br />All specifications would include provisions to reduce erosion, restore landscapes, and provide for <br />revegetation. <br /> <br />3. Design and construction plans would emphasize preserving all mature trees. <br /> <br />4. All wetlands disturbed would be identified in the Section 404 of the Clean Water Act permit <br />application under Regional Permit Number 57, Projects that Benefit Recovery of Endangered <br />Fishes. Direct wetland disturbance caused by the installation of the drain pipe and flushing <br />channel would be mitigated. Backwaters would be monitored to document the effects caused by <br />diverting drainage water. Mitigation criteria would be developed to ensure that any reductions in <br />wetland acreage are replaced. <br /> <br />5. The wetlands mitigation would be developed with the concurrence of the Service and the Army <br />Corps of Engineers. <br /> <br />6. Construction activities would be restricted to the fall to reduce impacts to nesting birds <br />(including a heron rookery) and winter roosting. <br /> <br />CHAPTER III - AFFECTED ENVIRONMENTIENVIRONMENT AL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />General <br /> <br />The OMW A is located along the south bank of the Colorado River about 3 miles east of downtown <br />Grand Junction, Colorado. The property is accessed from Mesa County C Road about 0.3 miles <br />I east of Mesa County 30 Road. <br /> <br />The property was purchased in 1996 to replace wildlife habitat lost during the lining and piping of <br />irrigation canals and laterals in the Grand Valley and to protect endangered fish habitat. <br /> <br />Lands surrounding the OMW A are private and agricultural in nature. Hay crop production and <br />horse pasture are the primary uses. The OMW A receives return flows from surrounding lands <br />irrigated by water via the Orchard Mesa Canal part of the Grand Valley Project. <br /> <br />Recreation Resources <br /> <br />The OMW A is managed by Reclamation as a wildlife area and public access is limited to foot <br />traffic. Waterfowl and big game hunting are regulated by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The <br />area receives limited recreational use because of the restricted access and the close proximity to <br />residences. <br /> <br />Recreation resources are not expected to be impacted by the Preferred Alternative. <br />