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<br />conservation easements, purchase options, or life estates, to name a few. However, this does not <br />preclude the use of other authorities available to acquire such land interests. Priority will be given <br />to lands in the La Plata River drainage, as well as in the vicinity of Ridges Basin, to provide <br />replacement habitat for displaced deer, elk, and other wildlife that utilize Ridges Basin and <br />adjacent areas that will be affected. Large, contiguous parcels will be given priority to create <br />unfragmented habitat and to facilitate management. Lands will be managed for wildlife and other <br />uses will not be allowed if it is determined that they will interfere with the wildlife habitat <br />benefits. Acquisition, enhancement, and management plans will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish <br />and Wildlife Service (Service), Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), and possibly the <br />Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Wildlife mitigation land will be acquired prior to award of the contract <br />for construction of Ridges Basin Dam, and development will occur concurrently with the <br />construction of the dam. <br /> <br />2. Develop construction specitications to include noise, traffic, and human use restrictions to <br />minimize disturbance to wildlife near the construction zone of Ridges Basin. The Carbon <br />Mountain gas pipeline route, which could significantly impact golden eagle nesting, will not be <br />considered. Reclamation will make efforts to avoid construction during the May-July period in the <br />vicinity of elk calving areas to minimize impacts to elk. <br /> <br />3. Ensure that recreational facilities and the new alignment for County Road (CR) 211 are sited or <br />restricted in such a way to minimize the disruption of deer and elk habitat utilization and <br />behavior. <br /> <br />4. Designs of road crossings, particularly in the vicinity of Wildcat Creek, will contain special <br />provisions to minimize wetland/riparian resources. <br /> <br />5. Recreation facilities will not be permitted on the west or south sides of the reservoir to reduce <br />impacts to big game migration corridors. Trails will be restricted to foot traffic. Wildlife-related <br />activities will be encouraged. Future use of Reclamation lands for cabin sites or similar uses will <br />not be allowed. <br /> <br />6. Sufficient land will be acquired at the time reservoir right-of-way is acquired at the upper <br />(western) end of the reservoir (at least one-quarter mile) and along the southern shore to maintain <br />a wild[ife migration corridor around the reservoir and to winter ranges to the south. <br /> <br />7. Collaborate with raptor specialists from the Service and cDOW on road realignment and <br />construction activities at Ridges Basin Dam to identify and implement measures minimizing <br />effects on existing golden eagles and their nests on Carbon Mountain. All reasonable means to <br />preclude human activity on Carbon Mountain will be pursued. All power lines will be designed <br />raptor-proof. Reclamation will require that a 0.25-mile buffer around the existing golden eagle <br />nests he identified and that all reasonable measures are pursued to preclude human activity on <br />Carbon Mountain during the nesting period of golden eagles (December 1 through July 15). <br /> <br />4 <br />