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<br />0" frO IH~ <br />l)dJ;Hl, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />severe in the immediate v1c1nlty of the individual pump well location; however, <br />the effect will also occur in areas of very shallow water tables. The FWS has <br />determined that the 11 ,098 acres are in the "Resource Category 3" classification <br />based on recent mitigation policy rulemaking (Federal Register, September 9, 1980, <br />and January 23, 1981). <br /> <br />"Resource Category 3" lands are basically defined to be "of high value for <br />important species" and are "relatively abundant in the ecoregions of concern." <br />Replacement of these lands should be accomplished so that there is no net loss <br />of total habitat value. It is not necessary, however, to replace habitat losses <br />with the same kind of habitat. <br /> <br />Replacement of the habitat value of the 11,098 acres of affected lands in the <br />project area will be accomplished as follows: <br /> <br />1. Improve the habitat value of 3,485 acres of lands surrounding high- <br />value wetlands in the northern portion of Alamosa ~MR. <br /> <br />? Improve the habitat value of 880 acres of lands surrounding the <br />stabilized San Luis Lake high-value wetlands. <br /> <br />3. <br />vicinity <br /> <br />Maintain and improve the habitat value of <br />of high-value wetlands in the Blanca WHA. <br /> <br />410 acres of lands in the <br /> <br />4. Improve the habitat value of 1,642 acres of lands surrounding the high- <br />value wetlands at Russell Lakes management area. <br /> <br />The 11,098 acres of low-value lands affected by drawdown pumping within the pro- <br />ject boundaries will be replaced with 6,417 acres of lands with improved habitat <br />values due to nearby wetlands and ponded waters. The 410 acres of lands in the <br />Blanca WHA on which vegetation may be affected by drawdown pumping will be <br />replaced with about 300 acres of land in the west 1/2 of sec. 4, T. 38 N., <br />R. 12 E. and maintained and improved with the development and use of <br />105 acre-feet of artesian water annually from appurtenant water rights. <br /> <br />C. Water Production and Other Bird Use <br /> <br />The 3,443 ducks produced and 594 hunter-days per season which will be lost will <br />be replaced on A1amosa NWR and Blanca WHA with the addition of water from the <br />project through the replacement and improvement of wetland habitat values. The <br />601 ducks and 104 hunter-days lost annually on Blanca WHA will be replaced with <br />the 993.5 acre-feet of water annually supplied by the project to maintain and <br />improve the habitat value of 608 acres. <br /> <br />The remaining 2,842 ducks produced annually (490 hunter-days) will be replaced <br />on the 4,374 acres of lands receiving the 5,300 acre-feet of water annually on <br />Alamosa NWR. An additional 7,472 ducks in excess of those lost will be produced <br />annually on A1amosa NWR from the improvement of wetland habitat value through <br /> <br />13 <br />