Repayment

01APTI_R 5
PURPOSE= AN
RECOMMENDATIONS AND C,0MMl l M15NTS
% scedllir, dlsti rbcd thetas using native plalll Species to assist 111 the I'c- estahlishlllclll ol,11011Ve VCI;CI;lllnll ati
% described un er mitigation liw Refined Ahernmivc 4 Vegclalion lnlmact 5 in Section A. Where
% feasible, dir rational Wings will be used for river pipclinc cri,s in; s.
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Kee Ianrltioil will ConlpCnsale the loss of approximately 1145 acres of "phnd vegetation rcsulling fluor
Ilse. construe on of, (fie Ridges Basin RCselvnir, die I)tll -aIlgO Pumpin„ Plant, and olhcr ICatures ill
ile. cribed lln 1cr Miligalioll for Relined Alternative 4 VegWmion Impacts I and 2 in Scclion 3.4a.,, part of
Ile wildlife I iMpiliun Plan. •ncC cnmpensaHoll will be part of the Inlal estimated 2.700500 acres of
wildlili habi at to be acquired all(] enhanced Io Colllpensale file loss of wilcllili: habilal in Ridges Basin.
'rile mitigali n land acquisition will be complcled prior to initiation ol'ground- breaking construction
activilics at I IC reservoir and pumping Plain sites. Reclanlalkil will attempt In ac(Illlre large conliguous
acreage and will attempt to acquire these lands first in Me river basins Sal will be affected by the Al A'
Project, and hen outside of those basins, III lls. final decision made in consul lilt ion with slate and
lateral wild) tc. agencies.
IteClanratinn \viii compensate the loss or 134 acres of wetland /riparian habitat ail it mitigation ratio
sufficient to • eplace or exceed the habitat value of \wetland /riparian habitat loss as described under
Ivlitigalion li r Relined Alternative 4 Vegetation Impacts 3 and =4 in Section 3.4. Reclamalion will
replace lost 1 mdand/riparian areas al a planned ratio ill 1.5:1. Ihus creating approximately 200 acres of
replacement wetlands. Mitigation will involve a program of land acquisil ion, \a•Ctland dCVClupnlenl, and
Kent, -term nl nagcmolt. 'ru the extent possible, this pmgmm will be. intet;ra(crl into the. wildlife Iraibilal
mitigation p o;,ranl to Cxpancl berlelil5 and provide large bkwks orconlommis wildlife habital. Q-
purposes of his FSLIS. if is assunled 600 acres will be ncccssuy liar the Welland program. liccause of
limited wate supplies 1,61- Ilvw wetland creation in the region, restnrali,m rrrdCgradc:d wcllailds \will he an
important Co nponcnl of any wed end plan. As with wildlilc habitat nliti;,,alion, file La I'lala River 13:lsin
will he g4ey first priority liar wetland development. Lands liar wetland mitigation will be aalWal prior
Ire initiation r cons( ruction of Ridge, Basin Uanl and overall wetland mitigation physical Icatllr•e, will le
at least 95 p recut cornplelcd prior to beginning reservoir filling.
% ReeWmallon will also monifror the Animas River Hparian corridor ti, help determine any ove(s of late
% Ile monitoring will also include Basin C'r ck
o; wolands. K clummion will also Iimh hmund dWurb11y activifbs clue to construction of St: NN NAP and
W, other pipelil 's and will replace in it 2:1 ralio, riparian trees (cotlonwoo(Is) lost clue to construction.
Reclamation \will require: Owl development orrion- binding uml uses aivoid-S or nlininlires Mist ruCtioll
in Imcm m \. m4and and riparian vegetation located Qlhnf e0aid0l' illignInCnh of the. nun- bindiil,t water
conveyance lipclincs. lice lanlalion will require that construction rimes he kept to (he mininnnn side
needed to lu cl pri\iect objectives. Ifavoidancc is not possible, n riparian /wetland nli(igalion and
monitoring, Ian will be developed to comimisalc for the loss ofvel elation cover as described under
Miliea(ion IT- Retinal Alternative 4 Vcgetalion Impact 9 in Section 3.1.
5.4.5 I Wildlife Commitments
% RCclanrlliol win nlidgare the direct and indirecr loss of approximately 2,700.2.900 acres ol'wildlilC
'h, habilal throe gh the purchase, cnhanecnlent, and management or approximately 2.700 -2,900 acres ul'
suitable lane as described under h4hig•alinn for Refined Alternative 4 Wildlife Impact I in Section 33.
lie actual a nount of land Thal -ill be acquired to obtain this level elf iniligalinn will depend un the
potential wi Alife. value orlhe lamas acquired. All reasonable attempts will be made to acquirc interests
in lands on 1 willing seller basis, using be simple, purchases, Conservation eascnlellts, purchase options,
5 4 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMP MEN rS -'- 12