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<br />Preservation of Environment
<br />
<br />Preservation or enhancement of environment is a
<br />matter of the highest importance in the planning,
<br />construction, and operation of all Colorado River
<br />storage features, Contracts for water selVices,
<br />grants of rights.of.way and Indentures of leases for
<br />use of Federal land, supply contracts, and partici.
<br />pating agreements approved by the Secretary of
<br />the Interior include language to control water and
<br />air poilution, to require restoration and reseeding
<br />of lands scarred by construction and operation ac.
<br />tivities, and to encourage conservation of the
<br />aesthetic beauty of nature,
<br />
<br />In operating the reservoirs of the Colorado River
<br />system, releases from Fontenelle Reservoir are
<br />scheduled so the flow pattern wiil not adversely af.
<br />fect the downstream goose.nesting areas. Minimum
<br />tlews are maintained below a\1 dams to provide a
<br />desirable habitat for fish, animal, and plant life,
<br />Flood control operations at Navajo Reservoir and
<br />lake Mead protect the downstream channels and
<br />flood plains from erosion and scouring during pe.
<br />riods of high flow, Recent proposals for several
<br />large thermal.electrlc generating plants cooled
<br />with water and for coal gasification plants utilizing
<br />water from Reclamation facilities In the Colorado
<br />River system have required special consideration
<br />to protect the envi ronment of the area, The Secre.
<br />tary of the Interior's responsibility for water poilu.
<br />
<br />tion control has been delegated to the Commis.
<br />sioner of Reclamation and redelegated to the Re.
<br />gional Director of the Upper Colorado Region. The
<br />Regional Director of the Lower Colorado Region has
<br />been delegated responsibility for water poilution
<br />control at the Mohave Powerplant,
<br />
<br />Reclamat"ron is presently involved in a Federal.
<br />State study to evaluate, among other things, the
<br />effects of reservoir operation on the lake Mead
<br />bass fishery. The study is scheduled for completion
<br />in 1982 and should provide valuable information
<br />pertaining to the future management of the lake
<br />Mead bass fishery,
<br />
<br />Periodic dredging in Topock Marsh, part of Havasu
<br />National Wildlife Refuge, provides improved habi.
<br />tat for waterfowl and for endangered species such
<br />as the Yuma clapper rail and bald eagle, Topock
<br />Marsh is one of many created along the river by
<br />Reclamation proiects,
<br />
<br />The Bureau of Reclamation Is also considering the
<br />preparation of comprehensive environmental state.
<br />ments for the Colorado River Basin, it is anticipated
<br />that this effort will focus on the historical develop.
<br />ment of the river, present environmental conditions
<br />(1976 base), and the impact of future Bureau
<br />projects on the Colorado River, and its tributaries,
<br />up to the year 2000,
<br />
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<br />Fishing below Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
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