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M M N c) C) ..~) ATTACHMENT A FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS The Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared the following recommendations for lining the Price and Stubb Ditches: 1. Avoid existing cottonwoods during construction and maintain by providing permanent water source to the trees for their continued survival. We recognize that not all the trees can be avoided; however, a concerted effort should be made to avoid destruction of as many as possible. Consultation may be needed with the Soil Conservation Service and local landowners to determine a feasible method to provide a permanent water source to the trees to maintain them. 2. Acquire an additional 27 acres of land as part of the 2,090 acres to be acquired for the overall Grand Valley Unit, This 27 acres should be acquired and managed for wildlife concurrently with the Price and Stubb Ditch construction so there is no loss of available habitat due to the project. 3. If the Stubb Ditch is placed in pipe, three guzzlers should be placed at locations determined by the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Fish and Wildlife Service to replace the loss of available free water. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared the following recommendation if the two cross-drainage flood detention reservoirs are deleted from the Stage Two plan: 4, If the detention ponds associated with cross-drainage facilities for the Highline Canal are not constructed as originally proposed, the loss of wildlife habitat will need to be addressed. We anticipated the ponds would have provided a certain amount of riparian habitat and free water available on a limited basis. This riparian habitat would need to be replaced through additional land purchases and intensive management, In addition, the free water would need to be replaced by placing four guzzlers in locations to be determined by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the FWS, and the BLM, Reclamation has considered these recommendations in preparing the environmental assessment. Concerning recommendation No.1, construction specifications will contain special provisions to protect as many trees as possible during construction, The plan does not, however, include watering trees from the canal. Reclamation will work with landowners and the water districts to try and determine a practical method of replacing lost trees in addition to preserving trees during construction. Concerning recommendation No, 2, the additional acreage necessary to replace lost habitat will be included in the overall Unit plan as recommended. The three guzzlers recommended in No. 3 are likewise included 70