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<br />":3"1 <br />OJ <br />("'J <br />..-; <br />"::') <br />(..) <br /> <br />of additional lands east of the channel, and effects resulting from project <br />pumping on Blanca WHA. One artesian well with a capacity of 190 gallons per <br />minute (ga1/min) will be needed to accomplish annual delivery of the adjudicated <br />307 acre-feet of water right on the w. 1/2 sec. 4, T. 38 N., R. 12 E. <br /> <br />The 2,040-acre tract of Emperious Estate land will be acquired in fee with <br />appurtenant water rights. The existing wells on the Emperious lands are <br />estimated to be presently flowing about 1,500 acre-feet/yr. Approximately <br />800 acre-feet of artesian water rights will be transferred to A1amosa NWR to <br />partially mitigate project effects. Approximately 700 acre-feet/yr would con- <br />tinue to flow on the Emperious lands to maintain the resource of value in <br />terms of livestock grazing and waterfowl production. One artesian well with <br />a capacity of about 2,000 ga1/min will be needed to accomplish, in approxi- <br />mately a 3-month period, the annual delivery of 800 acre-feet artesian water <br />at A1amosa NWR. <br /> <br />Funds to accomplish the construction of the above wells will be provided. <br /> <br />IV. Enhancement <br /> <br />Due to the fact that the mitigation plan is designed to replace wetlands rather <br />than waterfowl production, the implementation of the revised plan would have <br />substantial enhancement benefits to the fish and wildlife resources of the <br />San Luis Valley. The enhancement realized in the area are shown in table 9 and <br />briefly described below. <br /> <br />The additional water and associated wetlands would increase waterfowl production <br />and help in the management of birds that are of high Federal interest. These <br />birds which are found on the A1amosa NWR and may also be found on Blanca WHA, <br />Head and San Luis Lakes, and Russell Lakes include the bald eagle, peregrine <br />falcon, long-billed curlew, great blue heron, greater sandhill crane, whooping <br />crane, and the Western grebe. The bald eagle, whooping crane, and the <br />peregrine falcon are also on the Federal list of endangered species. An addi- <br />tional 10,962 ducks per year and 211,500 use-days per season of other water bird <br />use will result from the improvement and enhancement of the habitat value of <br />both wet1ahds and surrounding areas. <br /> <br />A. A1amosa NWR <br /> <br />The addition of a dependable 5,300 acre-foot annual water supply would allow for <br />more intensive management of existing wetlands and wetland habitats and for the <br />development and management of additional wetland acres and feed crops. <br />Waterfowl production on 9,020 acres would be increased from the present 0.37 <br />birds per acre per year to about 1.7 birds per acre per year, an increase of <br />10,314 birds per year over present production. Mitigation of project losses of <br />2,842 birds per year would occur on A1amosa NWR, and 7,472 birds per year would <br />be considered as enhancement. Annual benefits were developed using an annual <br />harvest factor of 0.3, hunter success of 1.74 birds per day in the San Luis <br />Valley, and a value of $9.50 per hunter-day. <br /> <br />17 <br />