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Bureau of Reclamation Responses to Conunents ADDII:ESS ONlV THE DlRECTOR. fiSH AND WILDLIfE SERVICE United States Department of the Interior -I-,J-IIV '3-~f('t.d-;"'~:"'''' ,4 r' I'T';}-1 AND W FE SERVICE WASHINGTON, D,C. 2U240 June 1976 J;n Reply Refer 1,,: FWS/OBS 1//7 Memorandum Dr. Archie M. Kahant Chief Division of Atmospheric Water Resources To Management Office of Biological Services Ac ting Chief From - t.\tmospheric Water Resources Draft Environmental Statement Management Program Subject No response the Atmospheric In general t we encourage the experimental approach proposed by the Atmospheric Water Resources Management Program. This approach will allow the early identification of impacts t both positive and negative. It should also provide a sound basis for monitoring long term ecological changes. Project Skywater should maintain a staff or consulting capability to actively evaluate the impacts of this new technology on fish and wildlife resourcest including related habitat. We appreciate the opportunity to review the draft EIS on Water Resources Management Program. :00:: I .... ~ It is acknowledged that additional applied research would make it possible to analyze the impacts of increased precipitation on veg- etation and fish and wildlife in greater detail. It is believed that the presentation made in this Environmental Statement ade- quately represents the present status of knowledge concerning these environmental impacts. 2 The draft EIS reflects a high level of understanding of atmospheric systems and hydrology. The impacts of increased precipitation on natural ecosystems should be handled with equal sophistication. The draft EIS provides excellent general descriptions and species li::>t.::> for the. proposed study sites. Expected impacts of increased precipitation on vegetation and fish and wildlife t however t should be analyzed in more detail. This may require the support of applied research in the event the ecological information is not available An active monitoring program should also be included to measure ecological changes and rela ted impac ts 2 The reader is referred to the response made on this topic to a similar comment by the Deputy Chief, Forest Service. 3 Another significant concern of the Fish and Wildlife Service is the impact from a policy perspective - of opening wilderness areas to field operations of the type proposed. Specific attention should be given to the precedent of "opening" the wilderness areas to major resource management experiments with ecological implications. The EIS should also review alternative means of access to proposed instrumentation. A position paper or chapter on the "wilderness" issue is warranted in our opinion. 3 ~ ::~!.': Q;'~~'O'-UT/O"'~ ~ ~~ ~ (j ~ ~ !P 7-p. $ 1;>78_1910