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I .' I I I I I I I I I I I J I I I I I OJ213~ Information obtained from CDOW on its ongoing wildlife studies in the vicinity of the Williams Fork River is summarized below. 3.2.1 Eagles Bald eagles are listed as a threatened species at the federal and state level, and the riparian corridor associated with reaches of the Colorado River located near the Williams Fork Project provides important wintering habitat. The bald eagle wintering period is typically from December through March, and bald eagle use in these reaches of the Colorado River corridor through the winter is fairly high. CDOW believes that the concentration of bald eagles in the riparian corridor of the Colorado River, immediately upstream and downstream of its confluence with the Williams Fork River, is among the highest observed in Colorado. Golden eagles also use the area for wintering, Bald eagles have also been observed in the Williams Fork River north (downstream) of the reservoir between the dam and the Colorado River. This reach of the Williams Fork River was assessed during the CDOW annual cagle survey in only 2 of the 7 years for which data were provided. Annual wintering count data for bald eagles and golden eagles were obtained from CDOW. Count data for specific reaches of the Colorado River upstream and downstream of its confluence with the Williams Fork River, which were available for the years 1997 through 2003, are provided in Appendix B, Count data for the Williams Fork River (below the dam), which were available for 1998 and 1999 only, are also given in Appendix B. Table 2, below, provides a summary of the survey data for the Colorado River reach nearest the Williams Fork Project (the Colorado River immediately upstream and downstream of its confluence with the Williams Fork River [Troublesome Creek to Byers Canyon]) and for the Williams Fork River downstream from the dam (designated by CDOW as the Upper Williams Fork River), From 1997 through 2003, an average of approximately 13 bald eagles and 2 golden eagles were observed annually along the Colorado River reach nearest the Williams Fork Project. In 1998, one adult bald eagle and two adult golden eagles were observed in the Williams Fork River downstream from the dam. In 1999, two adult bald eagles were observed and no golden eagles were identified in that reach. Although the data provided by CDOW identify many bald eagles wintering on the Colorado River near the Williams Fork Project, what little data there are suggest that use of the Williams Fork River between the dam and the Colorado River may be considerably less. Furthermore, no individuals have been observed using the reservoir itself Williams Fork Reservoir Hydroelectric Project January 2004 Steigers COrpofOltlOn Wildlife Habitat Survey Report Page I'i