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<br />high spring !lows may discourage human encroachment into floodplain areas thus indirectly benefitting <br />the eagle's habi tat. Increased ri ver flows will cause more loss of mature trees to bank erosion, <br />possibly offsetting this benefit. Although some changes in fish populations are anticipated, food <br />supplies in the waterways affected should not be significantly affected. Reduced reservoir levels may <br />stress cottonwood trees developing around Navajo Reservoir reducing roosting areas. <br /> <br />Navaio sedge <br /> <br />This member of the sedge family occurs only in a few localities in Arizona (Apache, Coconino, and <br />Navajo Counties) and Utah (San Juan County), although surveys are incomplete. Its specialized <br />habitat consists of seep-springs on vertical cliffs of Navajo sandstone or other eolian sandstone <br />formations. One population is reported 1.5 miles south of the San Juan River (Utah Div. of Wildlife <br />Resources, 1998). Threats may include grazing, trampling, and disturbance to ground water supplies. <br />The proposed action would not affect the types of habitat used by this species. <br /> <br />Mexican sDotted owl <br /> <br />The Mexican spotted owl inhabits canyon and montane forest habitats in a range that includes southern <br />Utah and Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Critical habitat has been designated on 4.6 million <br />acres in the 4 states. Critical habitat does not include the project area but does include portions of the <br />San Juan arm of Lake Powell (Service, 200Ic). <br /> <br />Mixed conifer forests are commonly used; and in the northern part of its range (which would be the <br />project area), the owls primarily occur in rocky canyons. Prey species are thought to primarily be <br />small, nocturnal mammals. <br /> <br />Habitat types used or potentially used by this species would not be affected by the proposed action. <br /> <br />Species of Special Concern <br /> <br />American and Arctic Deree:rine falcons <br /> <br />These two species occur in Colorado and New Mexico, with nesting of the American peregrine falcon <br />occurring in both states. There are no known nests around Navajo Reservoir (Reclamation, 1999). <br />Potential nesting habitat occurs on cliffs along the San Juan River. Riparian areas in the project region <br />provide migration and foraging habitat. These habitats should not be significantly affected by project <br />alternatives. <br /> <br />Slack tern <br /> <br />The black terns would most likely be encountered in the project area during spring migration. Habitat <br />includes lakes and reservoirs and other open fresh water, nesting occurs in large marshes adjacent to <br />open water. Nesting populations occur in northern Utah around waterways and in wetland areas in <br /> <br />23 <br />