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<br />002719 <br /> <br />Opportunities for Ecological Improvement Along the Lower Colorado River <br />Mark Briggs and Steve Cornelius <br />7/24/97 <br /> <br />recovery efforts. Sites were then visited and field work conducted with personnel who <br />have either studied the area or were involved in the recovery effort <br /> <br />For each site visited, the following information was gathered: <br />(1) general background information, including site location, the size of the recovery <br />project, date of project implementation and completion, and project objective; <br />(2) general ecological condition, including the current composition and structure of the <br />site's plant community, obvious signs of disease or perturbation (e.g., mistletoe <br />infestation, significant population of non-native species, leaves exhibiting symptoms of <br />high salt concentrations), significant changes in ecological condition (e.g., dramatic <br />changes in depth to saturated soils or streamflow characteristics), signs of significant <br />salt accumulation, and obvious signs of erosion; <br />(3) recovery strategies employed (where appropriate), including information describing <br />the recovery methods, how the strategies were developed, post-project maintenance <br />and monitoring, and evaluation of the effort (how effective the restoration effort was in <br />achieving project objectives and a general description of the present condition of the <br />site; and <br />(4) lessons learned, describing how the experiences gained from this review can be <br />used to improve the effectiveness of future recovery and conservation efforts along the <br />lower Colorado River. <br /> <br />AN OVERVIEW OF SELECTED RESTORATION EFFORTS AND CRITICAL <br />NATURAL AREAS <br />In total, 12 sites were evaluated as part of this investigation. Of these, nine are recovery <br />efforts that were completed along the river's mainstem and all but one of these (Three <br />Finger Lake, project #6) used revegetation as the principal recovery strategy. The <br />recovery efforts ranged significantly in size and scope. Some encompassed less than a <br />hectare and involved fewer than a hundred plantings; others encompassed a much <br />larger area and involved thousands of plantings. Three "natural" sites were also <br />included in this effort These sites were identified as having significant natural value <br />and are not the result of artificial restoration work. Of the three, one is along the <br />mainstem of the river and the other two are located in the delta. A fourth significant <br />natural area - the El Doctor wetlands of the delta- is considered in the recommendation <br />section of the report Sites are labeled numerically from upstream to downstream. <br /> <br />Site #1 <br />I Ahakhav Tribal Preserve <br />Location and Size: This 150 acre revegetation site lies within the 1,000 acre' Ahakhav <br />Tribal Preserve, which is managed by the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) and lies <br />approximately three kilometers downstream of Headgate Dam. <br />Objective: To enl1ance habitat for wildlife and fish, as well as to provide environmental <br />education, outdoor recreation, and cultural opportunities for community youth. <br />Completion Date: Planting for this part of the ' Ahakhav Tribal Preserve began in 1996 <br />and will be completed during 1998. Recreation, educational, and cultural activties are <br /> <br />Page 7 <br />