2011-05-12_PERMIT FILE - M2011028 (2)

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CHAPTER 5 PURPOSE AND NEED, RECOMMENDATIONS AND COMMITMENTS or life estates, to name a few. However, this does not preclude the use of other authorities available to acquire such land interests. Priority will be given to lands in the La Plata River drainage, as well as in the vicinity of Ridges Basin, to provide replacement habitat for displaced deer, elk, and other wildlife that utilize Ridges Basin and adjacent areas that will be affected. Large, contiguous parcels will be given priority to create unfragmented habitat and to facilitate management. Lands will be managed for wildlife and other uses will not be allowed if it is determined that they will interfere with the wildlife habitat benefits. Acquisition, enhancement, and management plans will be coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), and possibly the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. Because of the preference to acquire interests in lands on a willing seller basis, it is recognized that the specific parcel location is difficult to establish at this time. If La Plata or Ridges Basin areas are unavailable, lands in other areas of the San Juan River Basin will be sought. Based on similar past programs, it will be feasible to acquire the lands; however, it should be noted that they may not be in the immediate project impact area. Wildlife mitigation land will be acquired prior to award of the contract for construction of Ridges Basin Dam, and development will occur concurrently with the construction of the dam. Reclamation will develop construction specifications to include noise, traffic, and human use restrictions to minimize disturbance to wildlife near the construction zone of Ridges Basin as described under Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Wildlife Impact 2 in Section 3.5. The Carbon Mountain gas pipeline route, which could significantly impact golden eagle nesting, will not be considered. Reclamation will make efforts to avoid construction during the May-July period in the vicinity of elk calving areas to minimize impacts to elk. Reclamation will ensure that recreational facilities and the new alignment for County Road (CR) 211 are sited or restricted in such a way to minimize the disruption of deer and elk habitat utilization and behavior as described under Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Wildlife Impact 3 in Section 3.5. Designs of road crossings, particularly in the vicinity of Wildcat Creek, will contain special provisions to minimize wetland/riparian resources as described in Section 3.4, Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Impacts 1 and 2. Habitat impacts discussed previously include indirect impacts. Indirect impacts will be managed through a plan that will support the minimization or elimination of those conflicts/impacts. Recreation facilities will not be permitted on the west or south sides of the reservoir to reduce impacts to big game migration corridors. Trails will be restricted to foot traffic. Wildlife-related activities will be encouraged. Future use of Reclamation lands for cabin sites or similar uses will not be allowed. Sufficient land will be acquired at the time reservoir right-of-way is acquired at the upper (western) end of the reservoir (at least one-quarter mile) and along the southern shore to maintain a wildlife migration corridor around the reservoir and to winter ranges to the south. Reclamation will collaborate with raptor specialists from the Service and CDOW on road realignment and construction activities at Ridges Basin Dam to identify and implement measures minimizing effects on existing golden eagles and their nests on Carbon Mountain as described under Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Wildlife Impact 4. All reasonable means to preclude human activity on Carbon Mountain will be pursued. All power lines will be designed raptor-proof. Reclamation will require that a 0.25-mile buffer around the existing golden eagle nests be identified and that all reasonable measures are pursued to preclude human activity on Carbon Mountain during the nesting period of golden eagles (December 1 through July 15), as described under Mitigation for Refined Alternative 4 Wildlife Impact 5 in Section 3.5. 5-13 P,0. Box - 1 q,,.vacc CO Q11.1; p'1.J+l?M.sS C?C.Kac.r?iL!o¢1l.VE?--- r«?n? ?T fl - Pulse 41 • -7 Co 5.4 ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS