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<br />SUMMARY (Continued) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Hanksvil1e Salt Wash supports a limited population of speckled <br />dace, but poor water quality excludes other species of aquatic life. <br />Emery South Salt Wash is seasonally dewatered and does not support a <br />self-sustaining fish population. Prior to this study, the Utah Division <br />of Wildlife Resources surveyed the affected portions of Muddy Creek. <br />The fish species found were speckled dace, fathead minnows, red shiners, <br />roundtai1 chubs, and f1anne1mouth and b1uehead suckers. High turbidity, <br />concentrations of dissolved solids, and seasonally high water tem- <br />peratures limit the quality of the fish habitat in the creek. All of <br />these species are tolerant of the adverse aquatic conditions of this <br />creek, such as erratic flow conditions and extremely poor water quality. <br />Fish species present in the Dirty Devil River are the same as those <br />found in Muddy Creek; the same harsh aquatic environmental conditions <br />prevail. No data have been collected indicating the Dirty Devil River <br />supports any of the game fish known to inhabit Lake Powell, but striped <br />bass and walleye may use the extreme lower portions of the river for <br />spawning. <br /> <br />Three federally protected endangered species were identified by the <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) as possibly occurring in the area-- <br />Colorado squawfish, black-footed ferret, and Wright fishhook cactus. <br />The razorback sucker is also being considered as a candidate for the <br />endangered species list. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Reclamation contracted for a Class III archeological survey of the <br />unit area. The intensive survey located eight sites in Hanksvi11e Salt <br />Wash and Emery South Salt Wash crossed by or adjacent to the power1ine <br />corridors and access roads; no sites were located in the injection well, <br />collection well, and surface facility areas. Four of the eight sites <br />appear eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. <br /> <br />The unit area provides recreational opportunities including camp- <br />ing, rafting, picnicking, sightseeing, photography, and off-road vehicle <br />use. The BLM does not document statistics concerning existing recrea- <br />tion use in the unit area because of the scattered and low amount of <br />vis itation. <br /> <br />Public Involvement <br /> <br />Throughout the planning process the general public, interested and <br />affected agencies, groups, and individuals had the opportunity to par- <br />ticipate in the study. Reclamation considered the information, opin- <br />ions, and expressed desires of the public in evaluating the salinity <br />problem, formulating alternatives, and choosing a recommended plan. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A public involvement plan developed in June 1983 assessed the level <br />of interest and identified sensitive issues. Alternatives were for- <br />mulated and presented to the concerned public for comment. Comments <br />were then used to evaluate alternatives and select the recommended plan. <br /> <br />S-6 <br /> <br />002314 <br />