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<br />.... <br />l\:l <br />--:I <br />c> <br /> <br />Reply to Conunent Made by the . <br />Division of Wildlife, State of Colorada <br />(Letter of May 7, 1976) <br /> <br />;.'1;,:, <br />'~"'''''''-:l <br />'~l: <br /> <br />1. Conunent: We agree the fisheries, page 111-63(7), are rather <br />mediocre and are also hopeful that they will be improved by the <br />project. We do, however, believe sealing the canal ,seeps may elim- <br />inate more than 1,000 acres of habitat as both upland game and <br />waterfowl habitat will be lost. No mention is made of possible <br />mitigation for these habitat losses which we feel should be dis- <br />cussed in the final statement. <br /> <br />Reply: It is possible that more than 1,000 acres of habitat could <br />be lost in the Grand Valley area. The 1,000 acres presented in the <br />draft statement is our best estimate at present. A comprehensive <br />flora and fauna study of the Grand Valley area is being completed <br />by a consulting firm to determine the impacts of the project. When <br />these studies are completed the information should give us a more <br />accurate figure. This information will be presented in the indi- <br />vidual statement or assessment of the Grand Valley Project. As to <br />mitigation of fish and wildlife, the Regional Solicitor has stated <br />that the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (P.L. 93-320) <br />does not contain any provision for fish and wildlife mitigation. <br />This, however, does not relieve the projects of mitigation if found <br />necessary because of impacts. If the flora and fauna studies now <br />being completed show that mitigation is necessary, action towards <br />that end will be taken. <br /> <br />~1~~J) <br /> <br />';(;'~k::' <br />, :~;;.;.' <br /> <br />158 <br /> <br />