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within the floodplain, impacts are expected to be temporary and minimal. <br /> The placement of the proposed pipeline at the project site in the Pony Express SWA will <br /> temporarily affect wetlands and has been authorized by the Army Corp of Engineers under <br /> Nationwide Permit No. 18. No loss or permanent impact to this wetland area'is expected. <br /> Disturbance of soils and vegetation and displacement of wildlife cannot be avoided during <br /> construction of wells and ponds and installation of pumps and pipelines; however, effects to <br /> these resources will be temporary and are not expected to be significant. <br /> Bald eagles (Federally-listed as threatened) are known to occur within the project area. The <br /> proposed work is also within the range of the mountain plover(proposed for listing as <br /> threatened) and the Eskimo curlew(endangered). Eagles may occur throughout the project area <br /> at various times of the year; however,no nesting occurs in the area and the proposed project does <br /> not include work that would adversely affect use of the area by eagles. Although the range of the <br /> mountain plover includes the project area, none have been observed in the SWAs. Specific <br /> construction sites are not in habitats typically used by them and consequently no effects are <br /> expected to occur to this species. The Eskimo curlew has been sighted approximately 50 times in <br /> the past 70 years nationwide,none of which occurred in Colorado. The species is considered by <br /> some experts to be extinct. Because use of the area by this species is extremely unlikely,no <br /> impacts from the proposed project are anticipated. <br /> Although the whooping crane(endangered),piping plover(threatened), and interior least tern <br /> (endangered)have not been identified as species potentially occurring in either Logan or <br /> Sedgwick Counties, the modified flows in the South Platte River due to this proposed project <br /> will extend into Nebraska. However, removal of the 30,000 acre-feet of water will be in <br /> accordance with"Colorado's Tamarack Plan"of the Cooperative Agreement. Consequently,no <br /> adverse effects to the whooping crane,piping plover, or interior least tern will occur due to the <br /> removal of water. The accretion of water in the South Platte during the low flow period as a <br /> result of this project is expected to help maintain critical habitat for these species. Enhancing the <br /> flow during the low flow period may also directly benefit the pallid sturgeon(endangered)that <br /> occurs in the lower Platte River system. <br /> A survey for archaeological, historical, and cultural resources was conducted on the project areas. <br /> No sites or structures were found within the proposed work areas. The project area does not <br /> include any prime or unique farmlands. <br /> Development of the EA for this proposed work was coordinated with, and included information <br /> provided by,the Ecological Services Division of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,the Army <br /> Corps of Engineers,the Natural Resource Conservation Service,the Colorado Natural Heritage <br /> Program, and the South Platte Lower River Group. Public comment on the EA was solicited <br /> through public notice in the Denver Rocky Mountain News,the Journal Advocate in Sterling, <br /> and the Julesburg Advocate in Julesburg. No adverse comments on the project have been <br /> 2 <br />