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Show The Division of Wildlife Resources has prepared a Wildlife Habitat Conservation Plan to guide the actions of citizens, elected officials and state's governmental agencies. The proposed plan was prepared from satellite photographs of existing vegetation and land use patterns in the county. These images were processed by computer and field checked for accuracy. The habitat value of each area or " patch" was evaluated according to established criteria. The criteria used to determine habitat value included the size of vegetated patches, diversity of vegetation, level of disturbance, presence or proximity of water, and known use of the patch by wildlife. The State Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands also manages scattered tracts of land in the basin, some of which support fish and wildlife populations. 14.3.3 Federal Primary federal responsibility for the protection and management offish and wildlife populations rests with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency administers the requirements of federal acts relating to fish and wildlife, such as the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Some of the basin's fish and wildlife are within national forest and public domain land managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. These areas cover 94,800 acres or about 18 percent of the Jordan River Basin ( See Figure 3- 3). 14.4 Problems and Needs Many people are attracted to live and play in this area because of the unique year- round attractions and facilities. This results in more pressure on the environment as a whole as well as the water resources in particular. Growing population in the valley increases pressure to develop lands currently serving as wildlife habitat. Most of the canyons are heavily used in both the summer and the winter for a variety of recreational activities. Many homes and businesses have been and are still being constructed in Emigration, Parley's, Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyons. These activities put a tremendous strain upon the environment and natural resources. There is also growing pressure to further develop areas in the Jordan River flood plain as well as along the many tributary streams. These areas represent the county's most valuable open spaces and wildlife habitat. Conflicts will increase in the future due to the finite water resources and an expanding population. Some groups advocate preserving the resources from all development, while others rely upon the development of the resources for livelihood. 14.4.1 Minimum Flows No minimum flow requirements have been established for the Jordan River. In general the flow in the Jordan River has been maintained in large part because of water rights held by public and private waterfowl management areas in the Jordan River Delta, but also because of irrigation return flows, and natural reach gains. The one section of river from Utah Lake to around 12300 South has been least affected by encroachment and channelization, but suffers from dewatering in the winter. Also, no minimum flows have been established for the Jordan River's tributary streams. Water shortages create problems for the managed wetland areas by promoting disease epidemics and the intrusion of undesired plants. To maintain a healthy marshland, a spring flush is needed to wash out toxins and provide salinity control. 14.4.2 Reservoir Operations Typically, releases from reservoirs are patterned after the reservoir owner's need. This has meant water is released from Utah Lake to meet irrigation schedules while water is released from Little Dell and Mountain Dell and the other small holding ponds in the Wasatch Range to meet culinary water needs. 14.4.3 Stream Channel Operations Diversions of water for municipal and irrigation uses reduces the flow needed for fish habitat. In the winter, when no releases are made from Utah Lake, extreme low flow ( or no flow) conditions exist and limit fish habitat from Utah Lake through Bluffdale. Most of the flow in the lower river during the fall and summer is poor quality return flows from irrigation or improved quality from sewage treatment facilities. 14.4.4 Wetlands and Riparian areas Many of the valley wetlands and riparian areas have already been lost or impacted due to development over the past century and a half. Wetlands and riparian areas are important wildlife 14- 4 |