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" · A trail connecting the eastern part of the foot bridge to the Barbara Whipple Trail. · Easement across private property at the southern boundary of the BLM property. This would provide a trail crossing point and further connection to the Buena Vista Trails System These future actions may have cumulative impacts on the natural environment ofthe east bank public lands beyond that just discussed in this action. Incorporating sound mitigation into the Cooperative Management Agreement will set a direction for protection for the public lands if future work is undertaken. Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for Riparian Systems: This project takes a small area of public land river habitat and alters the values that come with undisturbed river corridor and affects public land standard for riparian function. Project proponents do not offer strong mitigation for the loss of natural values, but list other public benefits. There will be a small unmitigated and everlasting disturbance to public land river corridor resources because of this action on public land, even thought true dredge/fill wetland loss issues can be avoided (e.g., trails, hardening, in-stream structures, disturbance, etc). It is recommended that mitigation suggestions described in the Environmental Consequences section be incorporated into the project planning and Cooperative Management Agreement. INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE SPECIES Affected Environment: The ecological site ofthe proposed project is prone to invasion by Dalmation toadflax, if severe soil distrubance occurs. Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: The type of disturbance expected from this proposal is not expected to increase the risk of invasive, non-native species. The Natural Vegetation Preservation Plan is adequate mitigation for this project. MIGRATORY BIRDS Affected Environment: The foothills riparian forest is distributed along stream systems in the foothills, lower mountains and mountain parks from 5,500-10,000 feet in elevation. The riparian forest is dominated by a deciduous component, especially narrow leaf cottonwood, a variety of willow species, box elder, mountain alder and river birch. The understory ofthese systems is typically rich, with a wide variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants. Riparian areas represent a transition zone between the aquatic ecosystem and the drier uplands. The riparian zones are well defined, unique, and highly productive areas which are sensitive to disturbance. In riparian systems 75% ofthe bird species use riparian areas during some part of their life cycle. In deciduous foothills riparian systems, yellow warbler is the species most frequently detected, followed by American robin, northern flicker, house wren, warbling vireo, song sparrow, western wood-pewee, and broad-tailed hummingbird. In coniferous systems, the cordilleran flycatcher is the most frequently detected species, followed by broad-tailed hummingbird, ruby- crowned kinglet, American robin, golden-crowned kinglet, Swainson's thrush, mountain chickadee, yellow-romped warbler, and western tanager.