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McClave Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment <br />when inundated, provides habitats for the species' various life stages (FWS, 1994). Floodplains <br />that have been previously developed are not likely to-provide PCEs (FWS, 1994). The Colorado <br />River 100 -year floodplain extends through the Loadout Facility property, in association with the <br />riparian zone of Reed Wash (Map 4). No disturbances from previous or existing industrial <br />developments within the proposed Loadout Facility property coincide with the 100 -year <br />floodplain extending up Reed Wash and the associated floodplain is appropriate critical habitat. <br />The 100 -year floodplain has not been mapped downstream from the 18 -mile reach in the vicinity <br />of the Salt Creek confluence with the Colorado River. However, the channel sinuosity and <br />apparent presence of old oxbows and side channels within the channel migration zone of Salt <br />Creek suggest a low gradient. Given the mouth location downstream from Horsethief Canyon <br />arid just upstream from Ruby Canyon, it appears that the Colorado River 100 -year floodplain <br />would extend up Salt Creek for some distance, though not as far as the confluence with East <br />Salt Creek. in any case, Iower.Salt Creek appears to provide suitable PCEs for Colorado <br />pikeminnow. <br />4.3.1.3 Effects by the Proposed Action <br />Direct and Indirect Effects. Construction and operation of the Proposed Action could directly <br />and/or indirectly affect Colorado pikeminnows through one or more of the following pathways: <br />1. Water depietions1rdin the Colorado River system. <br />2. Decreased water quality in East Salt' Creek and downstream in Salt Creek due to <br />discharge from the' Mine sediment retention _pond, and in Reed Wash due to <br />discharge from _sediment ponds at the Loadout Facility. <br />3. Coal spills entering Reed Wash from coal cars_ and fugitive coal dust from stockpiles <br />and coal cars at the Loadout Facility. <br />4. Construction of the rail bed and bridge in Reed Wash, 100 -year floodplain, and <br />critical habitat. <br />5. Acoustic impact from driving piles -in Reed Wash streambanks and floodplain. <br />6. Hazardous materials (diesel fuel, lubricants, creosote,* de -icing chemicals, and <br />herbicides) affecting Reed Wash, 100 -year floodplain, and critical habitat. <br />Water Depletions. As currently planned, the construction and operation of the Mine would result <br />in an average.annual water depletion of 25.3 acre -feet. Construction and operation of the <br />Loadout Facility would deplete an average.of 9.7 acre -feet per year. The depletions added <br />together total 35.0 acre -feet per year, which is less than the threshold of 100 acre -feet per year <br />requirement ,for the Project proponent to contribute to the species' Recovery Program. <br />Nevertheless, continued .water depletions . from the Colorado River system have affected <br />recovery of the Colorado pikeminhow. <br />Decreased Water Quality. Selenium is a semi - metallic trace element that is widely distributed In <br />Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary marine sedimentary rocks in the Western United States (Bureau <br />of- Reclamation et.al., 1998). Selenium is present in Cameo B coal deposits in the'Book Cliffs <br />(Colorado) coal field in concentrations ranging from <0.1 to 5.3 ppm (average 1.5 ppm (1.5 <br />mg/kg of coal) on a whole coal basis (Affolter, 20G9). Selenium is an essential trace element for <br />animals in small amounts but exposures to slightly higher amounts is toxic to vertebrates; often <br />compounded -by bioaccumulation of selenium through terrestrial and aquatic food chains <br />(Hamilton, 2004; Bureau of Reclamation et al., 1.998; Lemly, 1993; Lemly, 1996; Peterson and <br />Nebeker, 1992). Selenium could be introduced by the Proposed Action into Reed Wash and <br />East Salt Creek. Reed Wash is impaired due'to high concentrations of selenium. introduction <br />of additional selenium into ' th_ese waterbodies could further hinder recovery of -the Colorado <br />pikeminnow. - <br />21 <br />