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<br />There is a biological diversity of fish and wildlife resources and a great number of unique <br />species in the Colorado River Basin. This river system has one of the largest lists of threatened <br />and endangered fish and wildlife species in the United States as well as significant other resources, <br />including migratory birds and waterfowl, non-migratory birds, big game, plus the wetlands, <br />riparian lands, and other habitats that support these wildlife. <br /> <br />~ <br />l-" <br />l-" <br />-.J <br /> <br />In general, FWS activities consist of evaluating proposed salinity control projects of <br />Reclamation, USDA and the BLM, and preparing related Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act <br />reports, Planning Aid Memorandums, biological opinions, and commenting on Draft <br />Environmental Impact Statements and biological assessments. The Salt Lake City Field Office <br />provides the overall program coordination for the FWS. <br /> <br />FWS participalion in the planning process for the salinity control program is provided <br />through a variety of planning/working/coordinating interactions with Reclamation, SCS, EPA, <br />BLM, the Forum, state agencies, Indian tribes and the general public. Lists of threatened and <br />endangered species that may occur in the salinity control project areas are provided by the FWS. <br />Biological opinions are formulated by the FWS for projects where threatened or endangered <br />species may be affected. <br /> <br />Controversy has arisen over the anticipated effects of salinity control measures on <br />wetlands. Replacing the loss of irrigation-induced wetlands may result in conflicts between the <br />primary objective of salinity control, protection of water quality, and other regulatory programs <br />requiring the replacement of wetland values lost. <br /> <br />Much of the salt load is attributed to seepage from leaking irrigation water distribution <br />systems and deep percolation from inefficient on-farm irrigation. This seepage and deep <br />percolation also provides the source of water for many of the irrigation-induced wetlands in the <br />salinity project areas. As seepage and ,deep percolation are reduced, some of the irrigation- <br />induced wetlands will be unavoidably lost. <br /> <br />Authorization of several new salinity control projects will require increased review by the <br />FWS to ensure protection/replacement of wetlands lost due to construction and operation of new <br />features. USDA's authorization to mitigate incidental fish and wildlife values foregone on a <br />voluntary basis was not strengthened by PAlRA, therefore, the FWS will need to monitor the <br />ability of the NRCS to achieve adequate compensation both in proportion to and concurrent with <br />their construction program. Concepts such as mitigation banking will continue to be explored by <br />participating state and federal agencies to accomplish satisfactory progress. <br /> <br />u.s. C'rilnlQaical Survl\Y (uSGS) <br /> <br />The USGS's Water Resources Division provides and analyzes hydrologic information to <br />assess the Nation's water resources. Programs are developed with cooperation and financial <br />support from state, local and other federal agencies. The programs provide hydrologic and <br />geochemical information for evaluation of surface and ground water systems as well as for <br />management and policy decisions. <br /> <br />4-12 <br />