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<br />A. Wetlands and Wetland Habitat Mitigation <br /> <br />A total of 8,460 acres of various wetland types will be affected by <br /> <br />construction of the conveyance channel and roads (5,026 acres) and water table <br /> <br />drawdown because of project pumping (3,434 acres). <br /> <br />Replacement of the 8,460 acres of wetlands damaged by construction and <br />operation of the project will be accomplished through the development, improve- <br /> <br />ment, or maintenance of existing or new wetland areas on Alamosa NWR, Blanca <br /> <br />WHA, San Luis Lake, and Russell Lakes WMA. Maintenance of wetlands in this case <br /> <br />means improving wetlands to a higher value and maintaining these wetlands at the <br /> <br />higher value level. The total value of the wetland habitat affected will equal <br /> <br />the value of the wetland habitat maintained, improved, or developed. To <br /> <br />accomplish the goal of no net loss of existing wetland habitat value, salvaged <br /> <br />water, water rights from willing sellers, and additional land acquisitions are <br /> <br />required. <br /> <br />a. Alamosa NWR - A total of 4,374 acres of wetlands will be <br /> <br />improved and maintained on the Alamosa NWR with the use of 5,300 acre-feet of <br />water annually [at maximum project productionJ. This 5,300 acre-feet of water <br />as described in the 1979 FES was to be supplied from project water. Under the <br />present plan, about 4,500 acre-feet of the 5,300 acre-feet of water annually [at <br />full project development] needed for wetland habitat value replacement will be <br /> <br />project water provided by the conveyance channel. The remaining 800 acre-feet <br /> <br /> <br />of water needed annually for Alamosa was proposed to be furnished by transfer of <br /> <br /> <br />water rights from the Emperious property to the Alamosa NWR. However, approval <br /> <br />to transfer only 163 acre~feet was received from the State Engineer. In lieu of <br /> <br /> <br />this transfer the Bureau of Reclamation purchased 847 acres of the Lillpop Ranch <br /> <br /> <br />including- 538 shares of the Chicago Ditch Company and conveyed it to the FWS. <br /> <br />31 <br /> <br />t ~,.....- , <br />-j \. .....tj U'OJ. <br />