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748 In an infrequent series of drought years, reservoir elevations would be significantly lower under the 749 proposed plan compared to the no action alternative-up to 30 feet lower and this could cause a serious 750 setback to reservoir-dependent riparian areas. 75 i Low summer Hows in the taiiwater area may increase disturbance to potemiai habitat from angiers ihai 752 can more easily wade the river and travel up and down banks. This could adversely affect potential 753 habitat in the first few miles downstream from Navajo Dam. Stresses on riparian vegetation between, 754 the dam and Farmington due to low flows could also occur. Long-term effects on habitat, due to a 755 more natural hydrograph, particularly downstream from Farmington, under proposed operations are 756 difficult to project; however, it is assumed a more natural hydrograph would benefit native habitats; 757 and, in the long-term, benefit this species. 758 California condor 759 Relocation efforts involving this large raptor have resulted in the introduction of this species to 760 northern Arizona. Previously the species occurred in recent years only in California, where it was 761 extremely rare. Individuals from the northern Arizona population have traveled into Utah and 762 Colorado, and certainly could occur on an irregular basis in the project area. The bird is a carrion 763 feeder and generally nests in cliff areas. Existing or potential habitat for the species would not be 764 affected by the proposed plan and there would be no effect on the species. 765 Black-footed ferret 766 There are no recent reports of this species, which is closely associated with prairie dog towns, in the 767 project area. Potential habitat of the species would not be affected by the preferred action. 768 Threatened Species 769 Bald eagle 770 Bald eagles occur around Navajo Reservoir and along the San Juan River, primarily during the winter. 771 No bald eagle nesting is known to occur in the New Mexico portion of the project area (Reclamation, 772 1999), but an active nest occurs in Colorado on private lands north of Navajo Reservoir. Winter 773 concentration areas occur around Navajo Reservoir and some of its tributaries. Winter concentration 774 areas have been designated along the Piedra, San Juan, and Lost Pinos rivers and reservoir arms in 775 Colorado and in several areas around the reservoir in New Mexico. Food sources include fish, 776 waterfowl, and carrion. Night roost sites consisting of undisturbed cottonwood groves or ponderosa 777 pine groves, from which eagles disperse daily for feeding, are important factors in maintaining 778 wintering populations. 779 The bald eagle is not expected to be adversely affected by the proposed action. A more natural 26 00666