Laserfiche WebLink
<br />be affected. Specifically, there would be no requirements for Orchard Mesa to operate the check <br />to facilitate fish passage. <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife Resources <br /> <br />The primary fish and wildlife resources associated with this proposal are found in the Colorado <br />River itself and within the riparian and agricultural land along the river. Wildlife species in the <br />vicinity include the Canada goose, great blue heron, various species of ducks and shorebirds, and <br />a variety of songbirds. Fish resources include the native flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, <br />mountain sucker, and roundtail chub. Nonnative fish species include channel catfish, black <br />bullhead, common carp, fathead minnows, white suckers, and green sunfish. <br /> <br />Under the No Action alternative, no significant changes in wildlife resources are anticipated. <br />Current policies to reduce non-native fish that compete with native fish in the Colorado River may <br />gradually change the species composition in the river and adjacent ponds to a higher percentage of <br />native fish and a lower percentage of non-natives, including game fish such as channel catfish. <br />During construction of the preferred alternative, there would be some disturbance of wildlife and <br />fish during the several months of construction, This disturbance would be temporary and should <br />not have significant adverse effects. The impact would occur during the non-breeding season, . <br />further reducing the potential for impacts,. In the long-term, the pool-riffle complex would <br />probably create habitat for some fishes as well as aquatic invertebrates. This may increase feeding <br />areas for species such as the great blue heron. <br /> <br />Endangered Species <br /> <br />Endangered species that are possibly found in the project area include the Colorado squawfish, <br />razorback sucker, American peregrine falcon, bald eagle, interior least tern, and the southwestern <br />willow flycatcher. None of the Federally-listed threatened or endangered mammals or plants are <br />known to occur in the project impact area. <br /> <br />Information on the endangered fish is contained elsewhere in this EA and in Appendix A <br />Information on birds occurring in the project area. was obtained from lists by Andrews and Righter <br />(1992), Colorado Natural Heritage Program (1995), and a Bird Checklist for Mesa County <br />Colorado. The American peregrine falcon is a rare breeder and migrant in the general area. <br />Suitable nesting habitat is not found within the impact area, although the general impact area <br />could be used for hunting. The bald eagle is an uncommon but regular winter visitor that <br />occasionally perches in large cottonwood trees along the river. The interior least tern is a migrant <br />that is occasionally observed in open water areas of the Grand Valley, The Southwestern willow <br />flycatcher inhabits the riparian zone and forages over open land habitats, This flycatcher was <br />reported to breed in the Grand Valley (Colorado Natural Heritage Program 1995). Suitable <br />habitat (patches of willows, tamarisk, small cottonwoods) for the flycatcher does not occur in the <br />immediate project impact area, .. <br /> <br />17 <br />