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<br />; <br /> <br />.'.I <br /> <br />summer temperatures would dictate that flows be increased to compensate. This may then result in n reduction <br />in flows in winter because of lack of supply, thus increasing the chance of icing in the river. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE 4 - This alternative would result in periodic loss of native fish habitat, especially <br />when flow is reduced to 20-50 cfs. <br /> <br />C. THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES <br /> <br />Reclamation entered into a consultation concerning the proposed action with the USF&WS under the <br />provisions of Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Reclamation prepared a Biological Assessment <br />(Appendix A) to the USF&WS that addressed potential impacts to the federally-listed species identified by the <br />USF&WS as present in the project area. Refer to the Biological Assessment for Reclamation's detenninations as <br />to effects on listed species. The USF&WS has detennined that "...the actions under alternative I or 2 are "not <br />likely to adversely affect" the listed species in either river basin..."(See Appendix A,letter of 11-30-94). <br /> <br />D. WILDLIFE <br /> <br />1. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT - Wildlife species could be potentially affected by the operational <br />change of McPhee Dam due to a pool management strategy. Those species are closely tied to the downstream <br />aquatic environment of the Dolores River and adjacent riparian and floodplain wetland ecosystems. Wildlife <br />species found in habitats of the Dolores River drainage downstream of McPhee Dam are typical of southwestern <br />foothills riparian ecosystems. <br /> <br />Typical mammalian species include the following: <br /> <br />Beaver (Castor canadensis) <br />Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) <br />River otter (Lutra canadensis) <br />Mink (Mustela vison) <br />Raccoon (Procvon lotor) <br /> <br />The river otter, a species native to the system but believed extirpated from Colorado earlier in the <br />century, is of particular concern. It was reintroduced to the Dolores River drainage in 1988 and is currently <br />thriving. Food habitat studies of river otters in the Dolores River show that crayfish (Orconectes virilis) <br />constitute a major portion of their diet. Typically, otters consume the most easily caught prey speciesavailable, <br />which is the crayfish in the Dolores River. In winter months, otters prey extensively on channel catfish <br />(Jctalurus punctatus) and carp (Cvprinus ~ in the lower Dolores River. Raccoon are also prey heavily on <br />the abundant crayfish population. Beaver are largely dependent for food and structural material on the woody <br />riparian vegetation ccrnmunities which include: <br /> <br />Cottonwood (Populus spp.) <br />River birch (Betula occidentalis) <br />Alder (Alnus spp.) <br />Willow (Salix spp.) <br />Box Elder (Acer negundo) <br /> <br />Numerous waterfowl species regularly Use the river. The first few miles of the river downstream from <br />the dam appear important due to greater availability of slack water. They also tend to remain relatively ice-free <br />during the winter when open water becomes a limiting factor to waterfowl use. Waterfowl attracted to this open <br />water provide an attractive prey base for wintering bald eagles. Mergansers (Mergus merganser americanus) use <br /> <br />26 <br />