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nCJ:~39 ., Threatened and Endam:ered Soecies-- The Service has issued a biological opinion on the proposed Contract, It concluded that the Mancos milk-vetch, Knowlton's cactus, Mesa Verde cactus, Mexican spotted owl, and black-footed ferret would not be affected and that the bald eagle and southwestern willow flycatcher may be affected, but would not likely be adversely affected, by water quality changes, The Service also concluded that selenium and salt loading in the San Juan River as the result of new irrigation may affect, but not likely adversely affect, the Colorado pikeminnowand razorback sucker and their critical habitat due to insignificant impacts relative to the expected contribution of salts and selenium. While accretions to the streamflow in the San Juan River would be beneficial to these fish, the continued depletion of 8,000 acre-feet of water from the Dolores River may affect and is likely to adversely affect the pikeminnow, razorback, humpback chub, and bonytailin the Colorado River. Depletions from any new or historic water use in the upper Colorado River Basin are considered an adverse effect. Historic depletions, however, are addressed under the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish SpeCies in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Program identifies actions that offset historic depletions and, thus, depletion impacts from the conveyance of water under the Carriage Contract are not considered significant, Recreation andSocial and Economic Factors-- The Carriage Contract would facilitate an increase in irrigated acreage in Montezuma County, thus increasing the market value of agricultural production and strengthening this sector of the area's economy, Boating and fishing are important recreation and economic uses on the Dolores River downstream from McPhee Reservoir. Water, in excess to that needed for project reservoir filling and immediate project needs, periodically "spills" from McPhee Reservoir and supports rafting, The rafting season is entirely depend$nt on the occurrence of spills, .The 8,000 acre-feet of water involved in the Carriage Contract has historically been diverted from the Dolores Basin; and during the last 10 years, this occurred at least three times. In years that the water stays in the Dolores Basin, and if runoff conditions cause McPhee Reservoir to spill the following spring, the water can expand the . . spill and, thus, the rafting period (by up to 4 days), Under the proposed action, the water would continue to be diverted; and this is likely to occur under the No Action Altemative, Therefore, little or no net impact is projected, Cultural Resourcesc- The newly irrigated lands are in an area containing numerous archeological sites dating to the prehistoric and historic periods. Land disturbing activities assoCiated with distribution and use of the 8,000 acre-feet of irrigation water could affect sites. Mitigation plans to be included in. the Carriage Contract call for identification, avoidance where possible, and data collection on sites encountered in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and with agreements with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. In this manner, significant impacts on cultural resources can be avoided. 4