Laserfiche WebLink
SUMMARY AND SUGGESTIONS <br />• The preliminary wildlife assessment of the Dowe Flats project <br />area has identified three major issues associated with proposed <br />reservoir development which will have to be resolved to the <br />satisfaction of county, state, and federal resource agencies <br />for project approval. These issues are: (1) the effects of <br />reservoir development and operation on threatened and endangered <br />species (bald eagles and Johnny darters are present on or adjacent <br />to the project area); (2) the displacement of a large raptor <br />population from an important hunting area in the proposed reservoir <br />basin; and (3) the effects of reservoir development and use <br />on the local deer population. While these issues, and others <br />listed above, represent potential development constraints, their <br />significance and magnitude are generally far less than those <br />associated with other large water storage projects in Colorado. <br />This is also the opinion that was expressed by the state and <br />federal resource agency representatives during their site visits. <br />Therefore, while potential wildlife-development conflicts will <br />be an integral issue associated with this project, adequate <br />baseline studies, r_asonable mitigation efforts, and open <br />communications with resource agencies should circumvent the <br />wildlife issue from jeopardizing or delaying project development. <br />When to initiate baseline studies ultimately depends on when <br />water store in the reservoir is needed by the purchaser. It <br />takes at least 12 months to establish seasonal wildlife use <br />• of an area. Most agencies are now requiring at least 2 years <br />of data collection for certain wildlife groups (e.g., migratory <br />birds, big game, etc.) to establish what variation in wildlife <br />use occurs between years. Even if wildlife baseline studies <br />are restricted to 12 months, these programs are typically of <br />longer duration than any other discipline involving data collection. <br />Zt is, therefore, recommended that (1) the wildlife baseline <br />study be initiated as early as possible in the permitting phase <br />to minimize subsequent delays (although not so early that the <br />data collected might be considered outdated when permitting <br />proceeds) and (2) that a preliminary scoping process be held <br />with all agencies involved to identify the minimum intensity <br />and duration of adequate baseline studies. This would be critical <br />information for project planning. <br />The conduct of two studies, ferrets and raptors, appears to <br />be warranted and prudent at this time. Although the Dowe Flats <br />prairie dog report was not available at the time this document <br />was prepared, Mike Figgs (pers. commun.) indicated that management <br />of the extensive prairie dog colonies in Dowe Flats would commence <br />this fall (1987) using poisons to manipulate distributions. <br />i6 <br />• <br />