WSPC00304

• File Number: 8220.106.I
• Description: Colorado River Water Projects - Animas La Plata - Environmental Studies
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 4/15/2004
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Animas La Plata Project - Environmental Commitment and Monitoring Plan
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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nesting eagles are known to be sensitive to human disturbance, The relocation of
natural gas pipelines in Ridges Basin, as well as other construction activities, will
be in close proximity to the nest sites and could potentially affect nesting success,
Buffer zone and seasonal restrictions are included in construction specifications.
The effectiveness of measures to avoid/minimize construction-related
disturbances to golden eagle nest sites will be monitored. The objective of golden
eagle monitoring will be to: 1) evaluate affect of construction activities on golden
eagle nesting activities and 2) evaluate the effects of post-construction
recreational use in Ridges Basin on nesting golden eagles, During the monitoring
periods, weekly monitoring reports will be transmitted to the Service and the
CDOW.
(1) Monitoring variables will include those requirements as set out in the golden
eagle monitoring plan as agreed to with the Service. Other variables will be
identified, as needed, to evaluate the long-term effects of recreation within
Ridges Basin to nesting golden eagles. These variables may include eagle
presence or absence, mating activity, nest condition and use, fledgling success,
etc, The monitoring area will encompass the three known golden eagle nest
sites on Carbon Mountain. Golden eagle monitoring will be completed during
the mating and nesting period, which begins in winter and ends in mid-summer
when young eagles have fledged,

5) Aquatic Resources - Decrease in aquatic habitat due to chronic flow depletions in the
Animas River due to Project Pumping could adversely affect the carrying capacity for trout.
Also, reductions in flow in the Animas River would reduce physical habitat affecting the
carrying capacity of the river to support native fish. The introduction of trace elements into
Ridges Basin Reservoir from the Animas River could lead to the bioaccumulation of these
elements into the food chain, Operation of Ridges Basin Reservoir is not expected to result
in levels of trace elements harmful to aquatic life. However, because of bioaccumulation in
the aquatic food web, mercury levels in the reservoir could represent a hazard to bald eagles,
Stocked fingerling trout and native fish fry and fingerlings could be entrained or impinged on
intake screens at the Durango Pumping Plant. Stocked fingerling trout and native fish fry
and fingerlings could be stranded downstream of the Durango Pumping Plant if pumping
rates are not staged. Populations of native fish in the Animas and San Juan Rivers and
endangered fish in the San Juan River could be reduced by competitive interaction with non-
native fish species escaping from Ridges Basin Reservoir.
a) A voidancelMinimization:
i) By Design:
(1) Durango Pumping Plant:
(a) Reclamation will review and adopt established guidelines for screening
facilities to minimize fish entrainment and impingement at the Durango
Pumping Plant. Best available technology will be adopted at the time of
construction, Screening facilities will be installed at the Durango Pumping
Plant to minimize fish entrainment and impingement,

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