REP08101

• Permit No: M1993041
• IBM Index Class Name: Report
• Doc Date: 1/27/1994
• Doc Name: APPENDIX DOWE FLATS PROJECT WILDLIFE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

on adjacent habitats potentially causing habitat destruction
on Rabbit Mountain and increasing game damage claims on agricultural
• lands to the east. The CDOW does not want to be liable for
increased (or current) damage claims if they cannot effectively
manage the deer herd via hunting.
Another related issue, most beneficial for deer but important
for all local wildlife, is the identification and preservation
of movement corridors between Rabbit Mountain and the mountains
to the west. A large reservoir and surrounding chronic levels
of human activity could isolate Rabbit Mountain's terrestrial
wildlife from mountain recolonization sources to the west.
Some habitats on Rabbit Mountain, such as the ponderosa pine
forest, are already disjunct from other pine stands to the west.
This discontinuous habitat and the inability of certain species
to cross the gaps could explain the absence of Abert's squirrel
on Rabbit Mountain - extinction of a small population in an
area that was not recolonized because of isolation from the
main population. Once the location and width of movement corridors
are identified, they could be maintained by conservation easements,
particular land uses (e.g., a golf course), management restricting
recreational use, etc.
WETLANDS
Wetlands and wetlands mitigation are a major issue primarily
being handled by Aquatic and Wetland Consultants, Inc. Wetlands
• have 3 major values: environmental quality, socioeconomic, and
wildlife. The present condition of on-site wetlands provides
relatively low wildlife values; however, the incorporation of
wildlife considerations into wetland mitigation areas could
greatly enhance local wildlife habitat and increase the functional
value (and mitigation credit) of the wetlands. The CDOW responded
favorably to the concepts of artificial spawning beds and reefs
for fish, islands for nesting waterfowl, etc. in and around
the proposed reservoir.
An off-site wetlands issue that will need to be addressed, as
disclosed by the FWS, is the effects of water depletions upstream
and downstream of the reservoir on riparian wetlands.
THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Six federally listed threatened or endangered species and 1
state-listed species will have to be addressed in the impact
assessment. The six federal species will have to be discussed
in the Biological Assessment for the FWS, along with and candidate
species they might identify. Fieldwork will be required for
the black-footed ferret, bald eagle, and Johnny darter. The
remaining species can probably be handled via agency contacts
and literature review.
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