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Environmental Programs [Cont.] Superslihon Mountains east of Phoenix. requirements and habitat preferences of economically and recreotionolly impof1on' trout species. Information gained from both aquatic studies will be incorporated into the overall operation of the reservoirs to insure continued protection of important environmental values while maintaining many other project purposes. Lower Basin The Central Arizona Project (CAP) will supply Indian and non-Indian irrigation districts. and municipalities_ with_ wafer from the Colorado River. The water will be conveyed in 0 series of aqueducts stretching olmost 400 miles across Arizona. These aqueducts and associated storage reservoirs will affect a number of historical and archaeological properties. Extensive excavation and data recovery programs are underway on a number of archaeological sttes that will be aHected by construction of the CAP Salt-Gilo and Tucson Aqueducts. Most of these sites are related to the Hchokam culture. a highly organized agriculturally based people who lived in the Phoenix and Tucson Basins from about the beginning of the Christian Era until approximately 1450 A.D. The Salt-Gi/o and Tucson Aqueduct studies 28 olong with related work are revealing a picture of a relatively sophisticated and organized people who built extensive canal systems and storage reservoirs for irrigation and domestic purposes. They employed a variety of farming techniques to cope with the difficult desert environment. A picture is emerging of large communities that are more or less regularly spaced across the desen. These communities center around "platform mound" walled compound structures. The platform mounds appear to have been ceremonial and/or political centers where possibly an elite political/religious class lived. Pithouse villages, agricultural villages:- agricultural i\elds,- and- il1 -some oasis canal systems encircled the platform mounds. The communities measured os large as 6 miles across. In addition, a small number of "archaic" period sites ore also being studied. Tl1ese represent occupation by a hunting and gathering based culture that predates the Hohokam. Reclamation biologists are concluding studies on how cmimal drownings can be avoided along pro~sed ond ex,,,,,1ing t.ono\-s. and those under construction. Artificial oases and water catchments were placed in different locations to see if the mammals would drink from 1hem rather than the canals, thereby lessening mammal mortality in the canals. Patience _ and hope. Studies have also investigated the distribution and movement af desert mule deer and desert bigl10rn sheep alang the Tut.son and Granite Reei Aqueduct route5 to determine what areas would be best used for oasis, catchments, crossings, fencing, o.r conal escape devices. Escape ramps. ladders, and steps were studied on an existing canal (Mohawk Canal) to determine their effectiveness. A coo.perative agreement to furnish 14 wildlife watering devices a5 partial mitigation for the Granite Reef Aqueduct has been signed by Reclamation and the Arizona Game and Fisl1 Department. Recla-mation ogain -pa-rtiCipoted in a survey of po.tential habitat in an effort to determine the numbers and locations of the endangered Yuma clapper roil. The survey covered five divisions af the Lawer Colorado. River and was conducted in May and June \984. A separate study. funded jaintly by Fish and Wildlife Service (FW5) and Reclamation, to investigate movements and habitat utilization of the Yuma clapper rail. was initiated during 1984. This effort. t.ondut.\ed by scientists at tne Wyoming Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, is scheduled for completion in late 1987.