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<br />002180 <br /> <br />During years designated as "normal~ with 50 cfs releases under the DPRlFES criteria (approximately 50% of the <br />time) both the quantity and quality of trout habitat in the river below tbe dam would be adversely effected. <br /> <br />Native Fishery <br /> <br />- <br />Proposed Action - Implementation of the proposed RClion would benefit downstream populations of nlltive fishes by <br />. eliminating the extreme year round low flows associated with a "dry" year d~ignation. <br /> <br />No Action - Native fish habitat would continue to be adversely affected during designated "dry" years. <br /> <br />McPhee Reservoir <br /> <br />Implementation of either alternative would not affect reservoir fishery habitat. <br /> <br />C. \VILDLIFE <br /> <br />AFFECTED EN\1RO~'?\IE!'oc'T <br /> <br />Wildlife species in the Dolores River Canyon bt=low McPhee R~sc:rvoir which arc: closely associated with the aquatic <br />environment include the following: - <br /> <br />Reaver ~ cllnllde~~i~) <br />Muskrat (OndP.tre zi~thicm:) <br />River oner a...mm canadensi~) <br />Mink (JVfusteia ~ <br />Raccoon {Procvon ~ <br /> <br />Beaver, muskrat, and raccoon are COIDm.on in the area. Mink are considered to be rare. .. ne river oner 15 listed as I< <br />federal category 2 species and listed as endangered by the State of Coioracio. River oner were beileved to be <br />extirpet<<l from Colorado earlier in the centUry. Otter were reintrociuced to the Dolores River cirainage in 1988 anci <br />are c:urreIJtly thriving, Food habitat srodies or river oners in the Dolores River show that crayflSh (Orconectes v;..yij,,'; <br />constitute a major portion of their diet. Typically, otters consume the: most easil;' caught prey species available, <br />which is the crayfish m the Dolores River. In wintermonths, otters prey extensively on channei catflSh n::taluruc: <br />pl.lm:tatus) and carp (C)'prinu" ~ in the lower Dolores River. <br /> <br />l'(umerous waterfowl species regularly use the river. Toe first few miles of the river downstream from the ciBm <br />appear important due to greater availability of slack water. Tnis area also tencis to remain relativeiy ice-free during <br />the winter when open water becomes a limitin!; factor to walerfowl use. Waterfowl attIllcted to this open water <br />provide an attractive prey base for wintering bald eagles. Mergansers (Merl!m mer;flD~er americanus) use reaches <br />where small fish are readily available. .Pud.dle ducks" slIch as mallards <e.nas. -pilltyrhvn::ho<;), gadwall ~ <br />strepera) and teal ~ spp.) use slack water areas. hellver ponds. or inunciated floodplain wetlands for feeding on <br />aquatic piants and invertebrates. or for resting. Some wlllerfowl nesting occurs within the floodplain. <br /> <br />Bald eagles overwinter in the area and regularly use the reach of the river just dOVo.'I1Stream from McPhee Dam. Since <br />closure of the dam. as many as thirty eagles have been reponed in this area. The eagles are most probably attracted <br />by waterfowl and fish as food sources. <br /> <br />l'(umerous bird species are dependent on the tree IInd shrtlb habitats of floodplain riparian and wetland communities. <br />Tb~se habitats typically suppon among the highest ciiversir;' of species use of all habitats found in the southwest. Tnt <br />following species feed on aquatic river life. are dependent on cead ane dying trees of the riparian cononwood fares: <br />for nest sites. o~ s.re closely tied to ripanan shrub conl.tIlunities fo~ nesting ano feeciin:;: <br />