WSPP336

• File Number: 8240.200.10.H
• Description: Colorado River Threatened-Endangered - UCRBRIP - Program Organization-Mission - Stocking
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 2/4/1998
• Author: DOI-FWS
• Title: Management-Control of Non-Native Fish Species in Floodplain Ponds Along the Upper Colorado and Gunnison Rivers - Final Environmental Assessment-Finding of No Significant Impact - 02-04-98
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

000582

photographing wildlife. Bird-watching is the primary observational
activity. In 1991, 76.1 million persons were involved in nonconsumptive
wildlife-related activities (i.e., observing and photographing wildlife) in
the United States or about 40.1% of nearly 190 million Americans (U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department
of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 1993a). In Colorado, nearly 1.1 million
persons participated in nonconsumptive wildlife-related activities in 1991
or 43% of slightly over 2.5 million persons living in Colorado (U.S.
Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department
of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 1993a).

G. Indian Trust Assets. Indian trust assets are defined as legal interests in
property held in trust by the United States for Indian tribes or
individuals, or property that the United States is otherwise charged by law
to protect. The United States has ~ trust responsibility to protect and
maintain rights reserved by or granted to American Indians or Indian
individuals by treaties, statutes, and executive orders. These rights are
sometimes further interpreted by court decisions and regulations. This
trust responsibility requires that all federal agencies take all actions
reasonably necessary to protect this trust. The responsibilities of the
U.S. Department of the Interior for Indian trust assets were described in
Secretarial Order No. 3175, signed by Secretary of the Interior Bruce
Babbitt in November, 1993. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation policy was issued
in a July, 1993 memorandum from the Commissioner and NEPA Handbook
procedures were issued by the Commissioner in November, 1993. The Bureau's
policy states that it will carry out its activities in a manner which
protects Indian trust assets and avoids adverse impacts when possible. When
impacts cannot be avoided, the Bureau will provide appropriate mitigation
or compensation.

No Indian trust assets occur in the floodplain ponds along the Colorado and
Gunnison rivers. Therefore, control of nonnative fish species will not
adversely impact such assets if they did exist in the floodplains of either
river.

H. Envi ronmenta 1 Justice. Executive Order 12898 establ i shed envi ronmenta 1
justice as a federal agency priority to ensure that minority and low-income
groups are not disproportionately affected by Federal actions. The
ethnicity of the majority (90%) of residents in the project area is white
(Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce 1997). However, other ethnicities
of persons in the area include (hispanic (8%), Native American 0.7%), Asian
(0.6%), and black (0.4%). A public news release was issued by the Bureau
to all potential affected interests (i. e., agenci es, organi zat ions, or
individuals) who may be affected by the proposed action.

Access to floodplain ponds on private and public land will be gained through
landowners who are willing to participate in this Recovery Program effort.
No disproportionate negative impacts are known that may affect low-income
individuals or groups through control of nonnative fish species.

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