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<br />~ <br />l\., <br />--:I <br />W <br /> <br />:;;~t1i~ <br /> <br />Replies to Comments Made by the , <br />Department of Fish and' Game, State of Nevada <br />(Letter of May 4, 1976) <br /> <br />1. Comment: There is concern that unless proper steps are taken <br />there can be losses of waterfowl, shorebirds, etc., that might inad- <br />vertently utilize the brine ponds for resting, an instance of such <br />occurrence would be waterfowl mortalities that have occurred when <br />birds settled in on the sulfuric acid ponds at Henderson. <br /> <br />Reply: The loss of waterfowl reported in some industrial waste <br />ponds appears to be strongly related to specific ionic concentra- <br />tions and particular times of the year. It is difficult to pre- <br />dict whether similar conditions will exist at the brine ponds for <br />Las Vegas Wash. Although no plans presently exist to set up bird <br />salvage operations, if it appears to be necessary, the appropriate <br />fish and game agencies will be contacted and a plan for salvage <br />will be formulated and executed. Statements have been added to <br />chapters III, section A.S. Wildlife Resources and chapter IV, <br />section E.I.a. [5] Fish and W1ldlife Resources to address this <br />concern. <br /> <br />2. Comment: The improvements of the water quality flowing into the <br />Las Vegas Bay are desirable and can promote migrations of spawning <br />salmonids into the Wash. Although the Wash offers little potential <br />for natural spawning, it may offer a trapping and artificial spawn <br />collecting site. <br /> <br />:t~f.~~ <br /> <br />Reply: It is questionable whether water quality improvements result- <br />ingfrom salinity control will promote fish migration. Other consid- <br />erations, such as water temperature, may be the controlling factor. <br /> <br />162 <br /> <br />