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UOll~O~ OMW A Selenium Remedialion Project-Final Environmental Assessment 10 Bald eagle Southwestern willow flycatcher Colorado pikeminnow with critical habitat Razorback sucker with critical habitat Humpback chub Bony tail Uinta Basin hook less cactus Haliaeetus leucocephalus Empidonax traillii extimus Ptychocheilus lucius Xyrauchentexanus Gila cypha Gila elegans Sclerocactus glaucus The bald eagle uses the OMW A during winter months. Three birds have been documented using the mature cottonwood trees as winter roosts in February through March (Broderick 1998). No nesting has been documented in the area. The eagle is expected to benefit from the Preferred Alternative. Construction activities would occur in the fall of 2001 prior to wintering birds visiting the OMW A. The potential for bio-accumulation of selenium in food sources (fish. carrion, small mammals) is expected to be reduced by the Preferred Alternative. Mature cottonwood trees used for roosting and perching would not be affected by the Preferred Alternative. The Preferred Alternative is anticipated to affect. but nOllikely to adversely affect. the bald eagle. The southwestern willow flycatcher may occur in the project area, however surveys conducted by Reclamation biologists did not document nesting. One flycatcher was found north of the Colorado River about O.S-miles north and east of the OMW A. No nesting was documented with this bird. The Preferred Alternative is scheduled for the fall of 200 I outside the nesting season. therefore it is nOI expected to affect the southwestern willow flycatcher. Of the four listed fishes: Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bony tail and humpback chub, only the Colorado pike minnow and razorback sucker occur within the project area. Both species occur within the "Sensitive IS-mile Reach" and have been stocked by the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fishes Recovery Implementation Program. The OMW A is within designated critical habitat for the Colorado pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. Backwater habitats are important rearing and nursery habilats for both species. The Recovery Program also plans to stock bony tail within this reach in future years. Concerns about pOlential bio-accumulations of selenium in fishes and waterfowl is identified in the need and purpose of the proposed project. By reducing the concentrations of selenium in backwalers, it is anticipated that the Colorado pike minnow , razorback sucker, bonylail (if stocked), and designated critical habitats will benefit from the Preferred Alternative. Therefore, the Preferred Alternative may affect, but is not likely to adversely affect these species. The Preferred Alternative is not expected to affect humpback chub because is does not occur within the project area. The Uinta hookless cactus is found in gravelly soil of hills and mesas in the Colorado and Gunnison River valleys. Its distribution includes Montrose, Delta, Mesa, and Garfield Counties in Colorado (Colorado Native Plant Society 1989 and Spackman et aI1997). The cactus has not been documented in the project area and suitable habital is limited. The Uinta hookless cactus is not anticipated to be affected by the Preferred Al1ernative.