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r-" r0 r0 to III. WILDLIFE HABITAT MONITORING AND EVALUATION Please refer to the Biology Monitoring And Evaluation section of the April 1994 Monitoring And Evaluation Plan for the Lower Gunnison, Colorado Unit. This plan contains the methodologies used in obtaining and analyzing the data presented in this report. RESULTS At the end of fiscal year 1995, 255 salinity contracts comprising l7,942 acres are funded in the Lower Gunnison Salinity Unit. Of the 255 contracts, 39 are off-farm group projects and the remaining 21.6 are on individual farms. A ~otal of $1.0,305,794 has been approved for cost share of salinity related practices. Of the total cost share funds, $571,876 is allocated for wildlife habitat improvement practices. wildlife practices make up about 5.5% of the total cost share funds. Wildlife practices are scheduled in 129 of the 255 contracts (51%). Cost share dollars stated are original amounts and do not include modifications to the contracts. Although wildlife practices have been installed in many active contracts, only wildlife habitat practices and management completed in expired contracts will be reported as applied practices. Gf the 255 contracts, 41 are completed. Seven of these completed contracts installed wildilfe practices and management. Of the total cost share dollars obligated for the completed contracts ($J.,088,639), 1.5% ($16,226) were paid on wildlife practices. In addition to wildlife habitat practices installed under the Salinity Program, the Colorado Division of wildlife provided the Delta and Shavano Soil Conservation Districts with $50,000 for development of wildlife habitat under the Cooperative wildlife Habitat Enhancement Program (CWHEP). To date, 33 landowners haverecieved cost share funds through this program. Projects cost shared through this program are included in the Salinity Program replacement efforts when developed into a conservation plan, with long term operation and maintenance obligations by the landowner and where the landowners operating unit has been evaluated through the Habitat Evaluation Procedure (HEP) and the Avian Richness Evaluation Method (AREM) for existing, planned, and applied conditions to measure changes in wetland and upland wildlife habitat. Practices related to developing wetland, riparian and upland wildlife habitat for replacement of habitat losses are summarized into the following categories and tabulated below in table 3i herbaceous plantings (grass/legume), woody plantings (shrub thickets and shelterbelts), shallow water developments (ponds/potholes), fencing on wetland, riparian and upland sites, water control structures, corrugated metal pipe, underground pipe, gated pipe and concrete ditch to deliver water to the wildlife plantings and wetlands, irrigation water management, wildlife watering facilities and upland and wetland wildlife habitat management. Below each practice, associated NRCS practice codes are identified. l6