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<br />o <br />00 <br />r;t) <br />c'! <br />c: <br />: c. <br /> <br />been determined. During preparation of the mitigation plan a telemetry <br />study is being proposed to determine if kit fox mitigation is needed to <br />offset impacts to this species. <br /> <br />A small cactus, known as Thornber's Fish-hook Cactus (Mammalaria thornberi), <br />occurs on the flat lands west of the Tucson Mountains. This cactus is <br />being studied by the Endangered Species Office of the U.S. Fish and Wild- <br />life Service (USFWS) because it is believed to be declining in numbers. <br />Causes of this decline include housing and agricultural development and <br />over-grazing and trampling by cattle. The lowering of the water table from <br />ground-water pumping may also kill plants, such as the mesquite, which pro- <br />vide important shade for this cactus. The West Side Plan would cut through <br />Thornber's Fish-hook Cactus habitat for several miles. Although this <br />cactus occurs sparingly west onto the Papago Reservation, the area impacted <br />by the West Side Plan contains some of the densest and healthiest stands of <br />this species. There may also be impacts to this cactus from the delivery <br />lines to the Schuk Toak District and the Avra Valley Irrigation District <br />with the East Side Plan. <br /> <br />The USFWS may propose this species as federally threatened by June 1983. <br />If proposed, the USFWS would have 1 year to officially list the species or <br />remove it from the list of proposed species. If proposed, the Bureau would <br />be required to consult with the USFWS to determine if the aqueduct would <br />jeopardize the existence of this cactus. If a jeopardy opinion is not <br />reached, all that may be required would be to remove this cactus from the <br />al ignment before construction or to acquire and preserve nearby areas of <br />cactus from future destruction. If a jeopardy opinion is reached, con- <br />struction of facilities could be delayed or altered depending on the out- <br />come of the Endangered Species Act procedures. <br /> <br />Cultural Resources <br /> <br />The Arizona State Museum, University of Arizona, is under contract to the <br />Bureau to conduct cul tura 1 resource studi es. To determi ne the number of <br />archeological sites that may be affected by each plan the following steps <br /> <br />9 <br />