|
<br />
<br />'fhe",pl,'0pnsed'proj'ecl wrU..setvc'to'l'est0reripal1r1l11,wetlantl,mtdkliqulrtiehalD'itlltstnlltarelmp'0ft~nlli,.a;~.~eral,
<br />*" .tate" ~d' loe,all,eve.h 'Fhe,projeet WI, .'11, restore, .'~. 'varian 'll1)j,~We.ffl, :~. :~ c. ~1tl111,., ',., m1,',i.tr,'tiStliat,sUJ;lport si~1I1!eant,"
<br />.er.restl:'1a1 and aquatlesvecresmcludingthc Federal and S:tate'sp:el)leslilfcl'lpeern. . ','
<br />
<br />:E;l:iStfu.gColl:ditrOnsiRlparian vegetlltlenhas.had<l si;gmfic~'in'fllletlc~0P theSta~~IitydHhe Ndllt1irWl1!tl<
<br />GmmrsolLR1ver. 'IDeseriptilims O'fthehistnrical'riip:man.vegetaHQinin~\1l'atea.rnajore1\(Ulg~'illt1l:e~.~~.
<br />density ofthe,Ftparian vegetati0ne*istililgteda:y. ..DeVeIQpme#t~9ngitherlverfuas[lulftstantianyehmig~~~e
<br />c<ilmpo.s:itiou and vigor of the vegetatron.Riparianv~gettatWn:~~~geSb"eN]0'duee~eljJallgeinthe.l'.lfo~g
<br />depth, ,rooting density, shading, water ternperat'L1re,physieal.protectio'nfrombatik.erosf0tl,lnsect ha'!~fuiat.,aiocd
<br />contribution ofdetriflls totheJchannel, waterql,tality, and estlfeti~'v.a:luesi ' , '
<br />
<br />The, exis1'lngriparian vegetationlllougthe NotthForkdf the Gmwison RlverisliliUitelti:anddis(;otMlei!l1i1,lJ\l}.
<br />Ripari;m habitatsaxe:esseptial for:tnanY,speciessu:ch aSfrQ~s,tO'lIds,bea"er 'l11us!:ritt, ~lltetf0W'l.an€!w~,*g
<br />birds. ' In thearidlan&cape sutroundihgtheNofthFork,rl,pari~zo.nesprl'lvMetrrernostsignificant~t~dJslilf '
<br />fOrest and heavy bruslii. These areas' provide ciWilllbreed5Jit'a:n'<t1:'estil).ghaBi'taf f0rh'3cw~s,ea:gles'arr<li!l;jWls,as'
<br />weR as f0rageareas:t'Qr canllv6tes#lldonUliv0re's such ascIIlYo'te,)fectfox.;sti'iped'an:<t SIYottedsk'tIDks,!~1!lJ~t).g-
<br />t%Il;ld!we~,sels. With few exeeptiQlls,riparian, a'l!ells(l:nlfeN'ol.'th;)l'otIlc'~llPp~a fm:"grelitetbi0lnasS"~fcro'm:~ts,
<br />shtews,tal)l)its, .and SG:ngliirds thansurroundingaxi(Llandse4P'6s;,:$hefcrllo*ingspecfalstil.tusspeci~;i1'drthern
<br />leopaxd'frog,Peregrine, falcon, wIrOQpingcrane, southwestern.WiJj.lowIlYca't~Irbr,'lllffd'eagle".sa:allill:111/eviit)."eand
<br />rlv.erottetlIlccuras residents or migrantsWjthin6r adjacentto thl:lft>tOjeetreaeh.. '
<br />
<br />Water quality is pOl'll.' which has, hiladto adecHne inthef!shery irifueptojecf tea:eh. Yeatlyirtiga:tiiJ:n\;!ito/ersion
<br />practices h3cve also contr1butedto'f!shery:degrada:trotl. Lewsu:itJ'(rier flows limitthl;liquality dfaqua:till'~bitat
<br />~ong with return irrigation flows,siltlltion"generllllack dfcoV'et,andIivestockdist'L1r1>ance. 'Ge'lleral~;t1te
<br />~tin.g facto,rs for wl1dlife:a1ongthe rlverarealack ofripariimand aquatichabitat,sfueamolink erosl91p,af1d'
<br />extenSIVe, agrrcultural practrces. ", ,
<br />
<br />, ,
<br />Areas adjacent tl'l the river are largely,privateagrictt1turalland;Lan€! use c0l.tsist.spri:tnari:ly of cattle andsh.eep
<br />ranches, cropland, and fruit orchards. Major crops grown in the axeainclude alfalfa, oats, grass hay,ei:1rn,and
<br />smaHgrains. 'Fruit orchards include apples, pears, peaches, cherries, plums, apricots" an<tgrapes. '
<br />
<br />Expected Future Conditions With()uf and Witl1 the Project. WithOlit the project, the condition of the ,
<br />riparian vegetation along the river would likelyretnain the same and corttinueto degrade over time..NS erosion
<br />continues, water quality and fish habitat will be a€!yerselyaffected. The factors that limit the qualityQf~uatic
<br />and wildlife habitat axelikely toc<!lfitinue in themt'L1re. The mrel'willeoiitflaUe toexperiel1ce!ows!:llFUiner;&ows
<br />in the rivet due to irrigation diversions,la general lack of coverp1'evided'bypparian haliitatan<taqua;tip':naliitat, ,
<br />an<t livestock distUrbance. '
<br />
<br />Fut'L1reconditionswith theprojectwoul<t inclucIe restored riparian and aquatic habitats along the river. the
<br />quantity and quality of riparian an€! wetland habitat would beimprove<tresult:inginincreasedhabitatfor
<br />wildlife and fish, and many special status species. Water qualitywott1d likelyimprl\lVe. Floodflo.w~'t1:etluation
<br />and river hydraulics are expected to improve. Recreation poteiitia:lin the study reach wl'luldalso1beimptdved.
<br />
<br />, ,
<br />Lanels, Easements, mghts-of- Way, Relocations and DisposcalA:reas (L:ERRDs). Theestimate<tfOtltlareaof
<br />the proposed project is about 392 acres. This inclu<tes the urtstaolechannel reaches as well as the batiks and the
<br />....i...nunediatelyadjacent degradedhabitata. t the I,', 1 id. en. tifie, d .Sites., T.', he t. o. tal est,ima.te.,d.value, of the" ,L. E. OOD,..,.,'..,., ,'...,.. :.s, is
<br />..47 million; 'It is anticipated the Corps' standard estates will be nsed; however, the local spobso'rlllay
<br />request a non-standard estate in the form of conservatiOli easements. Should the sponsor make such a
<br />
<br />.7-
<br />L:ISection FolderslSECAIBoard MeetlngslSeptember 2002\Agenda Item 19.Corps report attachemenl.doc
<br />01:22
<br />
<br />09/03/2002 PM
<br />
|