9672 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

1 CHAPTER l-INTRODUCT ON Proposed Action The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) proposes to develo and implement a process to reduce selenium-related health effects in fish and aquatic bird at the Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area (OMW A) near Grand Junction, Colorado. Puroose and Need High concentrations of selenium have been documented to ca se reproductive failure and birth defects in fish and waterfowl. There is a need to reduce selen um levels in two backwater areas along the Colorado River within Reclamation's OMW A. Th purpose of the project is to protect local fish and wildlife resources and reduce selenium bio-acc mulations in endangered fishes and aquatic birds. This environmental assessment (EA) was prepared by Recla ation in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Endangered pecies Act; and related Department of Interior (DOl) policies and regulations. Base on this document and on comments received, it has been determined that the proposed ction is not a major Federal action significantly affecting the environment, and a Finding of No ignificant.lmpact has been prepared. Chapter IV of this EA discusses and responds to c mments received on the draft. Background Information In 1996, Reclamation and the Recovery Implementation Prog am for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin (RIP) jointly purchased abo t 153 acres of Colorado River bottomland. The area was purchased as a wetland mitigation site for the salinity control project in the Grand Valley and to protect endangered fish habitat (s e Frontispiece Map). The salinity control project consisted of lining project canals to prevent s epage. The mitigation site is managed as wildlife habitat and will be referred to in this do ment as the Orchard Mesa Wildlife Area (OMW A). The Bureau of Reclamation has actively managed the OMW by planting cottonwood and other riparian plant species, applying salt cedar control, and provid ng flood irrigation. Water quality testing identified high concentrations of selenium in two bac water areas (see Figure 1). Selenium concentrations were recorded as high as 30 parts p r billion (ppb). The Colorado Water Quality Standard for selenium is 5 ppb. The U.S. Fis and Wildlife Service (Service) expressed concerns that selenium concentrations may be bio accumulating in endangered fishes and aquatic birds.