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<br />., <br /> <br />.~;-. <br />':Z:{~;} <br /> <br />.~~r;':~,. <br /> <br />.;...-. <br /> <br />. '. <br /> <br />w <br />~ <br />00 <br />N <br /> <br />The HSI is calculated from a habitat suitability index model <br />for a particular wildlife species. These models <br />differentiate the individual habitat needs and relationships <br />critical .to a wildlife species existence in order to <br />evaluate the effects of vegetative suitability changes on <br />that species. With this tool, a representative change <br />(either negative or positive) to habitat quality can be <br />determined. This value can then be multiplied. by acres of <br />covertype being evaluated to come up with Habitat unit Value <br />(HUV - an integration of qualitative values <HSI> and <br />quantitative values <Acres>). <br /> <br />Under the Environmental Impact statement for the McElmo <br />Creek Salinity Control Unit, HSI's and HUV's were to be <br />calculated for the following evaluation species: mule deer, <br />mallard, ring-necked pheasant, great-horned owl, yellow- <br />breasted chat, montane vole and common snipe. As agreed to <br />at the last interagency meeting for species model review; <br />the mule deer model would be dropped, the meadow vole model. <br />would be adopted in place of the montane vole, the yellow <br />warbler would be substituted for the yellOW-breasted chat <br />and the screech owl would be substituted for the great- <br />horned owl. It was felt by.the group that if a particular <br />model satisfactorily evaluated a cover type, even if the <br />species was uncommon in the area (but utilized the same <br />cover type in other areas), then a substitution was <br />warranted. It was also agreed that an additional model <br />would be selected to evaluate cattail wetland habitat (type. <br />3 & 4). The marsh wren model has been selected, modified <br />and is presently in use. <br /> <br />The current list of models is as follows; mallard - winter, <br />mallard - nesting, pheasant, screech owl, meadow vole, <br />yellow warbler, common snipe and marsh wren. <br /> <br />Ten cover types have been selected for measurement and <br />evaluation (using HEP) to determine suitability for <br />wildlife. These cover types are as follows: Cropland (AC) , <br />Annual Herbland (ANNHERB), Perennial Herbland (PERHERB), <br />Woodland (WOODY), Pasture and Hayland (AP), Native Rangeland <br />(SSSB), Orchards and Vineyards (AO), Palustrine Emergent <br />Wetlands (PEM), Streams, Rivers and Canals (RIVERSn), Lakes, <br />Ponds and Reservoirs (LAKESn). It should be noted that <br />rivers and canals (RIVERSn) are rarely affected in the <br />McElmo Unit. <br /> <br />11 <br />