WSP05756

• File Number: 8443.200
• Description: Narrows Unit - Mailing Lists Correspondence
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 3/6/1984
• Title: Proposed Conceptual Mitigation-Management Plan And Compensation Analysis
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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244:

Sullst;.-,Ylt iE!:in~terial

Management Obiectives and Strategie~

As a HEP evaluation team decision, the focal point of the
wildlife management plan will emphasize habitat management for
three target groups of wildlife species in order to offset
overall terrestrial wildlife impacts of the Narrows Unit and
better guide development and management objectives. Management
objectives will aim at creating optimum combinations of water,
food, cover and living space necessary for maximizing the numbers
of target species on management area lands. The range of
recreational use availability or prospect of availability will
increase due to a larger harvestable population of popUlar game
species. Even though the prioritization of the management plan
is based on selected wildlife target species, proposed habitat
management practices have the potential to benefit the whole
ecosystem for a large array of both terrestrial and aquatic
related wildlife species.

The following three target species were selected:

l. The blu~-winqed tea~ was selected to represent the
high social and economic im~ortance of waterfowl. Manaqement for
waterfowl was given the highest priority by the evaluation team.
A portion of the upper end of the conservation pool would be
diked to provide permanent water impoundments regulated by water
level control devices to enhance the prOduction of natural and
artificially seeded food plants and to encourage a desired ratio
of cover to open water. Earthen islands will be constructed to
provide nesting and loafing sites for ducks and geese. Large
grainfields (corn and other small grains) would be sharecrop
farmed to sustain waterfowl populations and harvest. Waterfowl
habitat developments will in turn benefit other wildlife such as
the furbearers, amphibians and shorebirds inhabiting permanent
and semi-permanent water regimes i.e., open water areas or
palustrine emergent wetlands.

2. The ring-necked pheasant was selected to represent
upland game and other wildlife occupying the edqe between
riverbottom cottonwood-willow and farmland. Habitat management
developments for this group will aim at providing optimum
proportions of shrubby cover (protective cover), annual
herbaceous cover (feeding cover) and perennial herbaceous cover
(nesting cover).

3. The ~ule de~ was selected based upon its
representation of the studv areas deer species in general and the
recreational value of big game hunting. A mUlti-species
management approach including upland game will also contain
benefits for mule and white-tailed deer. Complete elimination of

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