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5) HEP represents the state of the art for conducting habitat assessment and replacement analyses. . ,,;,-,', 6) HEP is computer assisted and can provide the status of wildlife habitat values replaced at any point in time. 7) HEP is recognized and used by many federal and state agencies concerned with wildlife. cf- 8) Certified training is available for HEP. Officials of USFWS, BLM, USBR, EPA, and the WGFD have been contacted concerning establishing the criteria to be used in the HEP analysis. All agencies have indicated verbally their willingness to be involved. These agencies will also be asked to participate within their funding and manpower limitations in field evaluations. The data collected and the evaluations made will be available for public review. ,,-,', Implementation Procedures for Replacing Wildlife Habitat Values Foregone SJ' , During the first year of the program, SCS will activate an interagency HEP team. This team will select an estimated six to eight indicator species. Habitat suitability models for these species will then be reviewed and revised, as necessary, to provide appropriate criteria for the evaluation of wildlife habitat impacts of salinity control plans on farms and other land units that participate in the program. At least two of the selected indicator species will be used to assess the progress in the voluntary replacement of wetland wildlife habitat. SCS planners will then use the indicator species approved by the interagency HEP team to evaluate pre- and post-installation habitat values on all lands participating in the program. Habitat value data will be used during the landowner's decision making process for developing long-term contracts that provide for salinity control, including practices to maintain or improve wildlife habitat. A similar accounting system will be used for salinity control activities undertaken by the irrigation district and state and local units of government. HEP data will be stored in a computer data bank and will be available to the interagency HEP team. In addition, any agency represented on the team can assist with individual HEP analyses in the field as their budget and time will permit. Wetland and Upland Wildlife Habitat r;-~~ If irrigation water management participation occurred on 15,700 acres, about 3,775 acres of irrigation water induced or supplemented wetlands (USFWS Circular 39 Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10) will be affected. Of this total, 1,010 acres will experience reduced water supply and an estimated 2,765 acres will be eliminated. The majority of these acres are classified as Types 1 and 2 wetlands. These impacts will occur gradually each year during the 9-year installation period. "",'- ,. 1 ~ \' 9 '.', -: U' , t,.~ .A. 4-17