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<br />CO <br />r..:-> <br />'1" '~t <br />'."'i <br /> <br />E. Structures <br /> <br />-, <br />, ~J <br /> <br />The main conveyance channel would either eliminate or remove from intensive <br />management about 4,000 linear feet of dikes and about 10 waterfowl nesting <br />islands on the Blanca WHA (Mallard 4). <br /> <br />(...., <br /> <br />III. Mitigation of Project Effects <br /> <br />Development, operation, and maintenance of the Closed Basin Division project <br />will result in adverse effects in varying degrees to wetlands, vegetation, <br />waterfowl production, other bird use, existing fisheries, and various existing <br />structures. The adverse effects are alleviated by the following mitigation plan <br />as detailed below and summarized in table 7. <br /> <br />A. Wetlands <br /> <br />Approximately 8,460 acres of various wetland types will be effected by <br />construction of the conveyance channel (5,026 acres) and water table drawdown <br />due to project pumping (3,434 acres). The FWS has determined that these <br />effected wetlands are "Resource Category 2" wetlands based on recent mitigation <br />policy rulemaking as published in Federal Register, September 9, 1980 (vol. 45, <br />No. 176) and Federal Register, January 12, 1981 (vol. 46, No. 15). <br /> <br />"Resource Category 2" habitats are basically defined to be "of high value for <br />important species" and are "relatively scarce or becoming scarce in the ecore- <br />gions of concern." Replacement of these habitats should be accomplished so that <br />no net loss of in-kind habitat value results. Replacement may involve different <br />kinds of habitat provided that the total value of the lost habitat is replaced. <br /> <br />Replacement of the habitat value of the 8,460 acres of affected wetlands in the <br />project area will be accomplished as follows: <br /> <br />1. Improve 1,500 acres of low habitat value wetlands on the northern <br />portion of Alamosa NWR to high value wetlands with 2,300 acre-feet of water <br />annually. <br /> <br />2. Improve 2,874 acres of low- to mid-habitat value wetlands on the <br />southern and middle portions of Alamosa NWR to high-value wetlands with 3,000 acre- <br />feet of water annually. <br /> <br />3. Maintain and improve 198 acres of existing wetlands of varying habitat <br />on Blanca WHA with 891-acre-feet of water annually. <br /> <br />4. Improve and maintain 890 acres of low-habitat value wetlands at <br />San Luis Lake to high-value wetlands with an average water flow of 4 ft3/s. <br /> <br />5. Improve 2,998 acres of existing wetlands in the Russell Lakes area by <br />purchase in fee and management of such lands along with appurtenant water rights. <br /> <br />10 <br />