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<br />r"- <br />"'- <br />,',') <br />~ wetlands could be reduced. This would be a detrimental effect in the wetlands <br />,-;) that receive water primarily from snowmelt surface runoff. <br /> <br />(':;:) <br /> <br />B. Vegetation <br /> <br />The impacts of the project on vegetation are related primarily to lowering of <br />the water table due to drawdown. The impact of lowering the ground water table <br />would be the most observable in the area of project wells. <br /> <br />For our determination it was agreed that in the project area where the existing <br />water table is more than 10 feet below the ground surface there would be no loss <br />of vegetation, vigor, and density resulting from the lowering of the water table <br />by the project. <br /> <br />The effect of lowering the water table a minimum of 8 feet on vegetation where <br />the present water table is 5 to 10 feet below the ground surface would be minor. <br />Our analyses indicated that about 2,154 acres of vegetation would be impacted in <br />the 5- to 10-foot water depth. Most of the effect of lowering the water table <br />would be observed in an area where the existing water table is less than 5 feet <br />below the ground surface. Approximately 8,944 acres of vegetation would be <br />adversely impacted in the 0- to 5-foot water depth. <br /> <br />The total acres of vegetation adversely impacted in terms of reduced vigor and <br />density by lowering the existing water table would be 11,098 acres. <br />Approximately 410 acres of vegetation adversely affected would occur on the <br />Blanca WHA, while about 190 acres are affected in the San Luis Lake and Head <br />Lake area. <br /> <br />C. Waterfowl Production, and Other Water Bird Use Losses <br /> <br />To determine the fowl production in the Closed Basin project area and the <br />associated loss in production caused by the project, the following calculations <br />(tables 5 and 6) were made: <br /> <br />Table 5 <br />Summary of Ducks Produced in the Closed Basin Project Area <br /> <br /> 43,122 acres of wetlands in Closed Basin project area <br />- 2,235 *acres of wetlands in San Luis/Head Lakes area (high-density area) <br /> 40,887 <br />x .31 ducks produced/acre of wetland (low-density area) <br /> 12,675 ducks produced/year in low-density area <br />+ 945 ducks produced/year in San Luis/Head Lake area (high-density area) <br /> 13,620 ducks produced/ year in Closed Basin project area <br /> <br />* San Luis/Head Lake area is a high concentration area; and <br />therefore, production/acre is higher and was calculated <br />separately from rest of project area. <br /> <br />10 <br />