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<br />'! <br />, <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />, 4" .....,. .-- <br />~..-- , <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />for tpe WPRS to reduce impacts to the peregrine by acqu1r1ng a different <br />kind of habitat to complement the pinyon-juniper habitat type that was <br />acquired specifically for big game. While providing hunting area for <br />the peregrine, the riparian and meadow habitats also would provide the <br />requirements for a variety of game and nongame species that will.be <br />impacted by the project. <br /> <br />It is now recognized that the FWS was mistaken about the DOW's desires. <br />In a meeting among the DOW, WPRS, and the FWS on December II, Mr. Robert <br />Rosette, DOW's Southwest Regional Wildlife Manager, made the FWS aware <br />that DOW wants the original mitigation plan to remain unaltered. In <br />other words, the DOW wants the remaining 350 acres of habitat to be <br />acquired for big game range as were the first 650 acres. For this <br />reason, please disregard the recommendation for substitUting riparian <br />and meadow habitat for big game habitat. The FWS apologizes for any <br />par,t of this misunderstanding and, in the future, will coordinate directly <br />with DOW management before recommending any changes in mitigation plans. <br /> <br />The FWS has discussed the possible impacts to the peregrine falcon with <br />Mr. Rosette and with Messrs. Sersland and Harris of the WPRS. In lieu <br />of our earlier recommendation, the FWS recommends that the WPRS conduct <br />helicopter and ground surveys for peregrine eyries along Cimarron Ridge <br />for at least a 2-year period. Each year three separate 2-day field <br />surveys should be performed. A ground survey only during the courtship <br />period (March-early April), an air and ground survey during the nesting <br />,period (late April-late May), and another air and ground survey when <br />parents are seeking food for the young birds (June-July) are suggested. <br />In addition. to surveying for the peregrines themselves, it is also <br />recommended that WPRS evaluate the potential of the nesting and hunting <br />habitat, using the Rocky Mountain/Southwest Peregrine Recovery Plan as <br />guidance. Written reports similar to those the WPRS prepared for the <br />Upalco Unit of the Central Utah Project should be submitted by late <br />summer of 1980 and again in 1981. <br /> <br />Further recommendations for peregrine management, and the nature and <br />extent of such recommendations, will depend upon results of the field <br />surveys and habitat evaluation. Such recommendations may include habitat <br />acquisition for the specific purpose of reducing impacts to peregrine <br />habitat. <br /> <br /> <br />\ ... <br /> <br />DON l\'.~ MINNICH <br />