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<br />.~.,:,., :.' ' <br />iIu",,> <br />r-. .. <br />:':-, .. <br />\i.:-..-;', <br />'.... " <br /> <br />- ~'''''''''''M'"."".,> -, ~ ' <br /> <br />....... ^"~ <br />UUl."III <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />,_'__:,:e;",',..-, <br /> <br />The primary function of this refuge complex is to provide suitable resting <br />and nesting habitat for waterfowl and resident upland game and to provide <br />food and protection for waterfowl, sandhill cranes and the whooping cranes. <br /> <br />(2) Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area - As mentioned previously, <br />the BLM Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area (WHA) has been developed and intensively <br />managed for waterfowl production. Artesian waters are used to maintain the <br />established ponds, wetlands and associated wetland habitat. Recent surveys <br />by BLM indicate waterfowl production to be very high - averaging about two <br />ducks per acre of wetland habitat and about 0.5 ducks per acre of terrestrial <br />habitat per season. Over the period of analysis, Blanca (WHA) will provide <br />about 5,000 man-days use of waterfowl hunting, 1,000 man-days of upland game <br />hunting and about 5,350 wildlife oriented use-days annually. <br /> <br />(3) State Wildlife Manafiement Areas - In addition to the <br />three Federal Wildlife Management Areas, t ere are also two State managed areas <br />in the San Luis Valley. They are the Rio Grande State Wildlife Area and the <br />Head and San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area. The Head and San Luis Lake Area <br />is the only State Wildlife Management Area within the project area. <br /> <br />(a) Head and, San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area - The <br />Head and San Luis Lake State Wildlife Area contains 2,054 acres of land and <br />water. The area is managed primarily for waterfowl. However, continued develop- <br />ment in the form of wildlife plantings will provide habitat for upland game <br />species such as pheasants, doves and cottontail rabbits. The shallow waters <br />and sandy shores of Head and San Luis Lakes also attract numerous shorebirds <br />including the unique white-faced ibis and the snowy plover. An abundance of <br />other non-game wildlife species are also found in this area. <br /> <br />b. Big Game <br /> <br />An occasional mule deer or an antelope may be found in the project area. How- <br />ever, hunting for these species in the project area is insignificant and would <br />be expected to remain so over the period of analysis. <br /> <br />c. Upland Game <br /> <br />A few pheasants, mourning doves, cottontails and jackrabbits are the upland- l <br />game species in the project area. Brushland in association with some cropland <br />and wet areas provides moderate quality habitat for these species. Because land <br />use patterns would not be expected to change in the foreseeable future without L <br />the project, upland-game populations would remain approximately the same as they <br />are at the present time. Without the project, it is estimated there would be <br />about 2,000 man-days of upland-game hunting annually in the water salvage area. <br />About 1,800 man-days would be rabbit hunting and the remaining 200 man-days <br />would be dove hunting. <br /> <br />, <br />I <br />I. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />d. Waterfowl <br /> <br />The San Luis Valley is the most important waterfowl production area in Colorado <br />and also contains valuable wintering habitat. Due to this importance, the <br />following discussion of waterfowl and wetlands is in considerable more detail <br />than other fish and wildlife aspects of the project. <br /> <br />6 <br />