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<br />to Blanca WHA. Three conveyance channel turnout structur~s, each with a <br />capacity to deliver 4,500 acre-feet per year, will be provided on the Alamosa <br />N~. <br /> <br />The conveyance channel will cross 1.3 miles of the eastern portion of Blanca <br />WHA. The effects of conveyance channel and drawdown pumping on Blanca WHA will <br />be mitigated with 1,107 acre-feet of water per year. Of this amount, 800 acre- <br />feet will be diverted from the conveyance channel and 307 acre-feet will be <br />obtained from transferred water rights. TWo water turnout structures from the <br />channel will be provided--one at the northern end of the channel where it enters <br />Blanca WHA and one near the southern end of the channel in Blanca. An addi- <br />tional 2,500 feet of open-earth ditches would be provided to move delivered <br />water through wetland areas. Ten waterfowl nesting islands will be provided at <br />selected pond locations. About 1,700 feet of open-earth ditches will be pro- <br />vided to move the water to areas where it can be most beneficially used. Some <br />4,000 feet of dike disturbed by construction will be replaced. <br /> <br />Mishak NWR, as described in the authorizing legislation and in the 1979 FES, <br />is no longer being considered for establishment. As much as 12,500 acre-feet <br />of project water would have been used to develop and manage the 5,000 acres of <br />wetlands and wetland habitat proposed in the plan of development for Mishak NWR. <br />This water was to be a one-for-one exchange of surface water inflow to Mishak <br />N~. During the high water runoff year, 1979, the maximum total amount of sur- <br />face water present in the Mishak NWR was less than 325 acres. <br /> <br />Preliminary analyses (1979 FES) estimated wetlands affected totaled 40,000 <br />acres. Final analyses show that only 8,460 acres of wetlands will be affected. <br />The combination of reduced project effects on wetlands and annual water supply <br />has resulted in the proposal that Russell Lakes WMA be substituted for <br />Mishak NWR. <br /> <br />The proposed Russell Lakes WMA would contain approximately 4,640 acres. About <br />1,900 acres of wetland and wetland habitat now exist in the Russell Lakes area. <br />Further development and management of Russell Lakes WMA would increase the area <br />of the wetlands and wetland habitat to about 3,000 acres. Russell Lakes WMA <br />would be managed and administered by either the FWS or the Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife. <br /> <br />Water samples will be taken at numerous sites for determination of sodium ions <br />and total dissolved solids. Well water will be blended as necessary to assure <br />that project water meets Rio Grande Compact requirements before delivery to the <br />Rio Grande at the outfall of the channel. <br /> <br />III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />A. Wetlands and wetland habitat. <br /> <br />1. <br />the project <br />boundaries. <br /> <br />Studies. The FWS stated in its 1969 Coordination Act Report that <br />would affect 100,000 acres of existing wetlands within project <br />The Bureau conducted a broad land-cover and land-use analysis of <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />I <br />, <br /> <br />c~~c~-[ <br /> <br />~ <br />