Laserfiche WebLink
<br />Other wildlife, river 'ecosystem' to benefit from land deal. <br /> <br />LAND PURCHASE, from 1 <br /> <br />wetland losses anSIng from <br />Reclamation's Grand Valley salinity <br />control program. <br />The land is bordered by a stretch of <br />the Colorado River that is heavily used . <br />by endangered fish. About 24' acres of <br />the property are wetlands that become <br />flooded by spring runoff, making the <br />parcel especially valuable to the recov- . <br />ery effort. Colorado squawfish gravi- <br />tate to the warm, slow-moving, food- <br />filled water of such wetlands. As <br />razorback sucker populations are <br />recovered, they are' also' expected to <br />use these areas extensively. . <br />Many other. iypes . of wildlife also . <br />make their homes at the site, explained <br />Steve McCall, 'a Bureau. of <br />Reclamation biologist. <br />"The hind. provides nesting habitat <br />for perhaps as many as 75 species of <br />birds, including everything from ducks . <br />and geese to songbirds, wading birds, <br />pheasants arid birds of prey,'" McCall <br />said.. The property also. hosts mule <br />deer, rabbits, raccoons,. squirrels, <br />muskrats and beavers. . <br />The land purchase will preserve a <br />.~ . ' " . <br /> <br />WETLANDS, from 1 <br /> <br />a total of about 200 acres along the <br />Colorado River betWeen Rifle, Colo., . <br />and the Gunnison River confluence.. <br />Riverside wetlands have.been found <br />to provide an environment. preferred .' . <br />by young endangered fish and are <br />believed crucial to. their recovery.. <br />Reviving these areas could' provide <br />spin-off benefits to the river and <br />human enviroriment, explained John <br />Hamill, former director of the Upper <br />Colorado River Recovery Program. <br />"Restoring these flood plain habi-' <br />tats should provide significani benefits <br />to endangered fish while also rebuild- <br />ing the riverecosystemJor other native <br />fish, riparian wildlife and for lhe <br /> <br /> <br />u.s. Fish and Wildlife Se{Vice photo <br />The Grand Valley property purchased for endangered fish also is home to ducks, <br />geese; songbirds, eagles, pheasants, deer, raCcoons and myriad other SpeCies. . <br /> <br />stretch of riverside property in an area <br />of intensifying development pressures, <br />"I think the purchase. also' fits in <br /> <br />with vario.us community groups' goals <br />to keep areas of open space along the. <br />river," McCall said. . <br /> <br />2 <br />