WSP04897 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . e -" ,',I..,' . -.^-,.' D.., .'..,,', .- '.' '.' ...!lrango era _ 1,:')';''';1' .'"/ ,~ . Study finds eagles safe from Animas-La' Plata , By Barry Smith Herald City EdilOr It's Iitde consolation to Animas- La Plata Project supporters, but the U.S, Fish and Wildlife Service did detennine that the' project won't hurt bald eagles. The same study that could scutde the project because of iLs ef- fect' on squawfish says that the Animas-La Plata "is not likely to jeopardi2e the continued existence of the bald eagle." About 70 eagles wintered near Navajo Reservoir and the lower Animas River last year - nearly triple the number froll} five years ago. t1Je report says'<Y' Surveys show the same trend on ~e La P1ata'~a.ncosand $an 1 ua'n nvers. ~.l,l-,-,,_;>.;,/i.~...-.\~. '. " <."',' (l'" The main" concern for eagles is the concentration of heavy metals in the Animas River from historical ....) .. , mining activities upstream. Conta- mination from the metals "severely 1imiLs" the amount of food in the river for eagles. "As the river flows downstream, tributary inflow helps to dilute toxic effects, and by the time the Animas reaches Durango, most heavy metals have precipitated out into stream sediments and water quality has improved to the point that it meeLs drinking water stan- dards a majority of the time," the re~lrl says. Creation of two new reservoirs as proposed for the Animas-La Plata Project "will attract wintering bald eagles, and it is conceivable that a new nest site could be established in the~rea, ~ according to the report. .' The Fish and Wildlife Service re- commends a bald eagle manage" ment plan and continued study of water quality. .-.."-. - ..-,". -'.. ...~ -. -- }, r~ I' .