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<br />C. Waterfowl production and other bird use <br /> <br />1. Studies. More recent information is now available on waterfowl <br />occurrence and production in the Closed Basin and San Luis Valley than was <br />presented in FES 79-37. In general, three factors are critical to waterfowl <br />production: (1) availability and quantity of water for breeding pairs; (2) <br />availability of water to sustain brood survival; and (3) quantity and quality of <br />nesting cover. Items (1) and (2) operate to limit waterfowl production in the <br />San Luis Valley. Wetland quality and quantity will determine how many of the <br />species can find nesting places and how many young they can produce. <br /> <br />2. Effects. Waterfowl production in the project area was estimated to <br />be 13,620 ducks a year. Operation of the project, in relation to the effect on <br />8,460 acres of existing wetlands, will decrease waterfowl productivity by 3,443 <br />ducks a year. <br /> <br />Total losses in waterfowl production annually would represent 1,033 birds not <br />being harvested per season and a loss of 594 hunter-days per season. Total <br />losses of other water bird use on 8,460 wetland acres would be 338,400 use-days <br />a year per season. <br /> <br />3. Mitigation. The losses of 3,443 ducks per year and 594 hunter-days <br />per season will be replaced on Alamosa NWR and Blanca WHA with the addition of <br />project water through replacement, improvement, and management of wetland habi- <br />tat values by FWS and BLM. The loss of 338,400 use-days per season by other <br />water bird species will be mitigated through replacement and improvement of <br />wetland. <br /> <br />4. Nesting platforms. The FWS is investigating the feasibility of <br />establishing artificial raptor nesting platforms as an enhancement feature of <br />the project. The platforms would not interfere with operation and maintenance <br />activities. <br /> <br />D. Fishery. The effects of project construction and operation on existing <br />or future fisheries in the San Luis Valley area have been revised. Existing <br />fisheries affected either directly or indirectly include those on the Blanca <br />WHA and the Rio Grande. Construction and operation of the project could elimi- <br />nate the trout fishery in two cold-water trout ponds on the Blanca WHA. A <br />total of 113.5 acre-feet of artesian water right will be provided for main- <br />taining annual trout production. The BLM will use and manage water provided <br />by the Bureau. Operation of the project would increase the flows of the <br />Rio Grande by about 120 ft3/s at the outfall of the conveyance channel below <br />Alamosa. <br /> <br />San Luis Lake would be stabilized at about 890 surface acres. As an enhancement <br />feature, it could support a high quality combination warm-cold-water fishery. <br />The San Luis Lake fishery would be maintained by a flow-through water system; <br />excess water would be pumped from the lake via the conveyance channel. <br /> <br />I <br />I[ <br /> <br />k <br /> <br />r. r";' ,.... ." " <br />!.., "' ..."_ l. (.1' V <br />