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materials do not reenter the river or ground-water systems. The use of desalination technology to recover freshwater and the requirements of pumping saline water to disposal sites could consume up to 120 x 106 kWh/yo Ongoing planning investigations have identified the following environmental concerns that require special attention: Fish and wildlife conservation Endangered species protection Brine pond effects on waterfowl The lining of canals and laterals and onfarm improvements proposed as key salinity control measures for the Grand Valley Unit and other irrigation control units have focused attention on the unavoidable adverse impacts on wil dl He habitat. Wil dl He habitat is lost when salt-seeped 1 ands and marsh areas are dewatered. Other vegetat ion and 1 and use changes al so may reduce wil dl He habitat. Fi sh and wil dl He measures pl anned to offset these adverse impacts include acquisition and development of wildife habitat, construct ion of wateri ng ponds, and install at ion of fences or escape structures to reduce big game losses. Onfarm improvements such as select types of plantings, strip-harvesting of some crops, wind-break development, and small ponds are also planned. Authorization and funding of fish and wildife conservation features of Title II salinity control units was under consideration by the 96th Congress in Senate Bill 2545 but was not acted upon. Thus far in program planning and monitorinq, estimated costs for mitigation measures are about 5 percent of total project costs. The concern about endangered species was focused primarily on the woundfin minnow found only in the Virgin River area in southwestern Utah near the LaVerkin Springs Unit. The woundfin, because of the precarious nature of its existence, has been listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as an endangered species. Its continued existence within the Virgin River system is directly linked to minimal physical, chemical, and biological altera- tion of mainstream habitat. Since 1973, the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have conducted research and monitoring studies of the woundfin and its river habitat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is of the opinion that the LaVerkin Springs Unit would not jeopar- dize the continued existence of the woundfin provided that instream flows are maintained. Project features such as desalting and provisions for brine replacement water were included in project plans to ensure mainte- nance of instream flows. Other unit investigations are closely monitoring the presence of endangered speci es and rel ated impacts of project features. Addi t i onal vegetation surveys are required, but endangered species present include Uinta hookless cactus and Mesa Verde cactus. Other endangered fi sh and wil dl i fe speci es found in the Basin and in the vicinity of some site locations include: the Humpback chub, Colorado squawfish, boneytail chub, Moapa dace, Utah prairie dog, American peregrine falcon, Bald eagle, whooping crane, blackfooted ferret, and the Yuma clapper rail. 22