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<br />000736 <br /> <br />Ela Wildlife Sanctuary Habitat Restoration FONS! <br /> <br />W ACO-GJ-FONS!-03-04 Page 2 <br /> <br />to local, state, and federal agencies, water users, environmental organizations, adjoining <br />landowners obtained from Mesa County GIS data, and other interested parties. <br /> <br />A meeting was held onsite on August 22, 2003 with representatives of the Grand Valley <br />Audubon Society, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation, and adjoining landowners, The purpose of the <br />meeting was to review the proposed action with adjoining landowners and address issues and <br />concerns, Adjoining landowners were concerned about the potential for increased flooding, <br />changes in the river floodway, loss of the existing levee's integrity, and odor from the Audubon <br />ponds. <br /> <br />A draft Environmental Assessment (EA) was prepared and distributed for public comment on <br />October 7,2003, Reclamation requested written comments on the draft EA were from the public <br />and agencies and organizations be received by November 7,2003, No comments on the draft <br />EA were received, Coordination on the project included consultation with the Fish and Wildlife <br />Service (Service) under the Endangered Species Act, Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife, and Colorado State Parks. <br /> <br />The EA evaluated No Action and Proposed Action Alternatives, <br /> <br />Conclusions: <br /> <br />Under the No Action Alternative, Reclamation would not take action to restore endangered fish <br />habitat at the Ela Wildlife Sanctuary. Habitat would not be enhanced to assist in recovery efforts <br />of the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. <br /> <br />In terms of environmental consequences of implementing the proposed action, there will be no <br />change in water use or diversions, In addition, recreation resources, land use, water rights, <br />historical and cultural resources, health and safety/disease vectors, Indian trust assets, and <br />environmental justice will not be affected by the proposed action. <br /> <br />The proposed action would result in positive benefits for fish and wildlife resources, threatened <br />and endangered species, vegetation resources, and water quality. <br /> <br />During Section 7 consultation with the Service (ES/CO:BR MS 65412 GJ), the Service <br />concurred with determinations that the proposed actions "may affect, not likely to adversely <br />affect Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker and bonytail. The Service also concurred with a <br />"no effect" determination for humpback chub and bald eagle. <br /> <br />All construction contracts and work plans will have "stop work" clauses that will require the <br />contractor and Reclamation to stop construction activities and consult with appropriate agencies <br />if I) threatened or endangered species were encountered or affected or cultural resources were <br />encountered, <br />