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(j ~/I) 718 . Fish and Wildlife Service Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 1994 Big Sandy Unit Mitigation planning for the Big Sandy Project continues with SCS towards the fulfillment of mitigating wetlands being affected by the Salinity Control Program (SCP). Accomplishments of this voluntary wetland replacement program has had some success, but falls short in fully mitigating project impacts. Mitigation has been primarily associated with construction of project features, such as creating wetlands associated with the construction of center pivot reserve water pits, and replacing lost waterfowl nesting habitat within corners adjacent to the circles, Due to the drought, the full extent of dewatering by the project by replacement of the surface irrigation system with center pivots sprinklers is not fully known. The project's Environment Impact Statement indicated that wetland impacts would be significant, totaling about 3,775 acres, If this is the case, we do not believe that wetland losses can be dlitigated through the voluntary replacement program that is presently in place, Many of the wetlands that are being affected by dewatering are on withdrawn public lands administered by the Bureau of Land ManagementJBureau of Reclamation, . The foreseen prohibition that project funds can not be used to mitig~te project impacts on public lands has, and will continue to, preclude that ability to mitigate project impacts associated with these lands. These lands and the recently Grandy Ranch purchased by The Nature Conservancy, provide excellent opportunity to mitigate wetlands impacted by the project. However, we believe to fully mitigation project impacts that the flexibility to use adjacent public lands and increasing or fully underwriting project's mitigation commitment will be necessary, Moapa Valley Unit The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Moapa Valley Unit, Nevada, issued February 22, 1993, by the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), proposed to implement the recommended plan of action, The Fish and Wildlife Service's (Service) Nevada State Office has expressed concern regarding the lack of assurance that compensation would be provided for impacts to wetlands.,.lpst as a result of the project. Since issuance of the ROD, the Muddy Valley Irrigation Company, the principal in the project area, withdrew their support, The Service received a letter from the SCS dated March 28, 1994, stating the SCS will not be implementing the Moapa Valley Unit of the Colorado River Salinity Control Program. The SCS has terminated activities on the project and ceased further expenditures for technical assistance under the program in Moapa Valley, . 8