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<br />wetlands may be eliminated. The majority of these wetlands are lower <br />value Types 1, 2, and 9. To replace wildlife habitat values foregone, <br />the habitat quality of about 860 acres of higher value wetlands <br />(Types 3, 4, and 10) would be preserved and enhanced by pond lining, <br />livestock exclusion, seeding, and installation of nesting islands. <br />Various conservation practices would be installed and implemented that <br />would also create and enhance wildlife habitat (vegetation) around <br />ponds, regulating reservoirs, wasteways, ditches, field edges, and odd <br />areas. All wildlife habitat (wetland and vegetation) will be <br />inventoried in the before- and after-plan condition in order to <br />determine wildlife values needed to replace values foregone. The <br />Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) developed by the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service will be used by the team biologist or other HEP <br />certified team members for these inventories. <br /> <br />Excess water in the reservoir resulting from improved efficiencies could <br />be released on a schedule that would enhance fish habitat and reduce <br />downstream flood damages. Release schedules could be developed by the <br />Wyoming Game and Fish Department and need concurrence from the Wyoming <br />State Engineer. <br /> <br />Implementation of the salinity control project will cause flows in Bone <br />Draw to cease. Bone Draw, located about 5 miles below the project, is a <br />small tributary that flows 0.5 to 1.5 cfs of water from saline seeps. <br />During drought years, Bone Draw has ceased to flow. Aware of these and <br />proposed project flow regimes, the Bureau of Land Management and a local <br />sportsman's group fenced and developed Bone Draw for a trout fry <br />nursery. <br /> <br />Installation of the selected plan is not expected to have any adverse <br />effects on endangered species that may occur in the project area. <br /> <br />There are several cultural resource sites and areas of high potential <br />located on or near the irrigated lands. Since participation in the <br />project would be voluntary, cultural resource surveys would be conducted, <br />where appropriate, when specific construction sites are identified. <br /> <br />The installation of structures would have short-term adverse impacts as <br />a result of construction activities. Disturbed areas would be reseeded <br />with adaptable vegetative cover favorable to wildlife. Short-term <br />impacts are not considered significant. Long-term impacts are either <br />beneficial or not significant. <br /> <br />The initial work for the Big Sandy River salinity study was done in 1978 <br />and 1979. A report entitled Big Sandy River, Colorado River Basin <br />Salinity Control Study, USDA Report, was completed in November 1980. <br />However, the USDA report did not identify a viable alternative which <br />could be supported by the State of Wyoming, the Soil Conservation <br />Service, and the irrigators in the area. The report did discuss <br />environmental effects of several alternatives. <br /> <br />Early in 1984, the State of Wyoming asked that the Soil Conservation <br />Service evaluate an additional alternative, installation of a low- <br />pressure sprinkler irrigation system. Consensus from the State of <br /> <br />OJl~4S <br /> <br />ii <br />