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<br />OMW A Selenium Remediation Project-Final Environmental Assessment <br /> <br />10 <br /> <br />Bald eagle <br />Southwestern willow flycatcher <br />Colorado pikeminnow with critical habitat <br />Razorback sucker with critical habitat <br />Humpback chub <br />Bony tail <br />Uinta Basin hookless cactus <br /> <br />Haliaeetus leucocephalus <br />Empidonax traillii extimus <br />Ptychocheilus Lucius <br />Xyrauchentexanus <br />Gila cypha <br />Gila elegans <br />Sclerocactus glaucus <br /> <br />The bald eagle uses the OMW A during winter months. Three birds have been documented using <br />the mature cottonwood trees as winter roosts in February through March (Broderick 1998). No <br />nesting has been documented in the area. The eagle is expected to benefit from the Preferred <br />Alternative. Construction activities would occur in the fall of 2001 prior to wintering birds visiting <br />the OMW A. The potential for bio-accumulation of selenium in food sources (fish, carrion, small <br />mammals) is expected to be reduced by the Preferred Alternative. Mature cottonwood trees used <br />for roosting and perching would not be affected by the Preferred Alternative. The Preferred <br />Alternative is anticipated to affect, but not likely to adversely affect, the bald eagle. <br /> <br />The southwestern willow flycatcher may occur in the project area, however surveys conducted by <br />Reclamation biologists did not document nesting. One flycatcher was found north of the Colorado <br />River about 0.5-miles north and east of the OMW A. No nesting was documented with this bird. <br />The Preferred Alternative is scheduled for the fall of 2001 outside the nesting season, therefore it is <br />not expected to affect the southwestern willow flycatcher. <br /> <br />Of the four listed fishes: Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bony tail and humpback chub, <br />only the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker occur within the project area. Both species <br />occur within the "Sensitive I5-mile Reach" and have been stocked by the Upper Colorado River <br />Endangered Fishes Recovery Implementation Program. The OMW A is within designated critical <br />habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. Backwater habitats are important <br />rearing and nursery habitats for both species. The Recovery Program also plans to stock bony tail <br />within this reach in future years. Concerns about potential bio-accumulations of selenium in fishes <br />and waterfowl is identified in the need and purpose of the proposed project. By reducing the <br />concentrations of selenium in backwaters, it is anticipated that the Colorado pikeminnow, <br />razorback sucker, bony tail (ifstocked), and designated critical habitats will benefit from the <br />Preferred Alternative. Therefore, the Preferred Alternative may affect, but is not likely to <br />adversely affect these species. The Preferred Alternative is not expected to affect humpback chub <br />because is does not occur within the project area. <br /> <br />The Uinta hookless cactus is found in gravelly soil of hills and mesas in the Colorado and <br />Gunnison River valleys. Its distribution includes Montrose, Delta, Mesa, and Garfield Counties in <br />Colorado (Colorado Native Plant Society 1989 and Spackman et al1997). The cactus has not been <br />documented in the project area and suitable habitat is limited. The Uinta hookless cactus is not <br />anticipated to be affected by the Preferred Alternative. <br />