CWCB Repayment Contract ALP

t11APT1 =11
PURPOSE=
12(:-:C0MMENDATION5 AND r:OMMI VMt;NTS
`!f seeding d ~turbot areas using native plant sltc.cies to assist in the rc•eslahlishlltcnl ofn.itive: vc,'Clalion as
'%u described under Milii,atititt li)r Relined Allcrnalivc 4 Vywation InliNio i in Wiwi 3.-t. Where
% &O&Wv, c ircctional boyhys will he used for river pipeline erosdig.
'X Rechmal on will compensate the loss ofapproximatcly 1145 acres ol"rlplsn d vegetation resultinlc troll+
% the consll Iction of the Ridgcs Basin Rcsurvnir, the Durango Pu+npin,t Plant, and other features its
Wl described undcr Milig'alian for Relined Alternative •I Vegetation ImPacls I and 2 in Section 3.4 as part ill
% the wilclli c nlil.igation plan. The compensation will be purl +if the total estimated 2,700 - 2,1)00 acres of
% wildlife I tbital to be acquired and enhanced to conlpeusate the loss ol"wiltllilc habitat in Ridges linsin.
% The ntili, Itioll land acquisition will be completed prior to initiation of ground- breaking construction
activities It iIIC resent,oir and pumping plant silts. Reclamation will attempt In acquire Im.ge Contiguous
acreage a id will attempt u) acquire these lands First in the river hasins that will be affected by the AI .I'
Project, .1 Id then outside orlhose basins, wilh the final decision made ill consull;llion with slate and
federal w Idlife agencies.
Re.tolaluai jon will compensate the lass or 134 acres orwethrid/riinfHan hahihA at a ntiligatii+n ratio
sufliciell to replace of. exceed the habitat value of wetland /riparian habitat I,)tit as described undcr
Mitit,ativ t for Relined Alternative 4 Vegoallnn Impacts 3 and 4 III tiection 3.4. Reclamation will
replace. lr st: tvetlandh iparian areas at a planned ratio of 13: i. Ihus uNwirlg approximately 3110 acres of
replacenl •nt wetlands. Mitigation will involve a program or land Oquisilion, wetland devchtpnlcnl, and
long-1cril I management. To the latent pmAhle, This progrant will be integrated into tile wildlife h ;ihital
nlitig,atio i program to expand herretils anti provide i;u'pe blocks ofcontijuot+, twildHIT haIMI. For
purposes ofthis FSLIS. it is issulne(I !i( ?O acre, will be necessuy liar the w•Clland program. Because of
limiletl ater supplies for new wetland creation in the rcgiou, restoration of(legraded wetlands will he an
imporlal component orally \voland plan. As with wildlife habitat mitit "'mioll, Ilia I.a Plata lover Basin
WM he c; Vol first priority 161. wetland development. Land: I'or wetland Mitigation will be acquired prior
%, In initial. on of cons( ruclion of Ridges Basin Dam anti overall twelland mitigation physical lealnres will be
°() at least if percent completed prior to beginning, reservoir tilling.
% Reclarnalion will also nutrlilerr the Animas River riparian corridor to help determine any e ffcels rlflltc
% pt+ntpin, reg,inlc Lill Ihesc downstream resources. I`he MunNO+ing will alst:, include Basin Creek
wetland.. Reclamation twill also unlit ground disturbing activities clue to construction or ilk NN NAP anti
°�, other pit clines anti will replace in a 2:1 ratio, riparian lreez (cottonwoods) lost clue to Construction.
Rcelant: tion will require that development of non - binding lend uses avoid` or mininliies consh'uGiort
impacts o wetland a"d riparian vegetation located within c.oukhr alignments of the non - binding: water
conve-ya te-e. pipelines. Rcclarnation will require that construction rimes he kept to the ill inirtttill) sixe
needed 1 n+cel proiCet objectives. Iravoidance is not possible, n ripariafMoland miligaliim and
monitor ng Plan will be developed to compensate For the loss of vegelation cover as described under
Mil n for Relined Alternative d Vcgoaliim Impact S in Section 3.4.
5.4.5 I Wildlife Commitments
%, Rcclanl Ilion will mitigate the: direct anti indirect loss ol'approxilnalely 2,700-2,900 :acres of tviltllirc
%+ habitat trough the purchase, cnha"Conenl, nrid management ol' approximately 2.700- 2,900 acres ul'
suiUlble land as described under Mitigation for Refilled Ahornative. 4 Wildlife Impact I in Section 31.
The no gal amount or land that will be acquired to obtain this Icvel of n+itil twill depend on the
pulenlil I wildlife. value orthe lands acquired. All rt:asufmHc attempts will be Inadc to acquil-C intercSls
in land on a willing: 5e.lY basis, using be simple, purchases, couscrvatiOn easements, purchase options,
54 CN+ONMENTAL COMM IIMFN7$ 1