| OCR Text |
Show that because the enlargement would block a mule deer natural migration route and because expanded recreation developments and increased human disturbance would occur, an additional 10,000 acres of adjacent deer and sage grouse habitat would be lost. These adverse impacts would be particularly harmful to the already declining sage grouse population of this locality since it has previously been reduced by loss of habitat resulting from extensive use of herbicides. The elimination of beaver, moose and deer habitat would be partially mitigated with habitat development elsewhere as explained in Section D but the sage grouse loss would be permanent. The habitat of many non- game birds and animals would also be eliminated and behavorial patterns disrupted. No rare or endangered species would be expected to be adversely affected. The adverse impacts of inundation upon waterfowl would not be expected to be significant. The losses of meadow and marsh areas would eliminate some nesting habitat for ducks and some forage for Canada geese. However, new habitat would develop associated with the enlargement. Strawberry Reservoir would have a long- term carryover storage function with expected average annual drawdowns of 6 to 8 feet. However, the total drawdown over an extreme wet to dry 10- year span could be as much as 70 to 80 feet. Such gradual water level fluctuations would lend stability to shoreline ecosystems including plant communities ( primarily grasses) and habitats of waterfowl, shorebird, amphibians, invertebrates, reptiles, and small mammals as well as to the fishery resource. Habitats of sage grouse and big game animals would not be expected to benefit in this manner although temporary use of the exposed areas could be made. The enlargement of the existing Strawberry Reservoir would have impacts other than those associated with loss of wildlife productivity. The lower sections of inlet streams would be inundated rendering them unsuitable for spawning of cutthroat and rainbow trout. However, State fishery biologists do not feel that this loss would significantly influence the magnitude of the existing spawning run because suitable gravel areas are available further upstream. Thus, this valuable source of trout eggs would not be deteriorated. The existing trout spawning activity might be disrupted by the attractive influence exerted by water flowing into the reservoir through the Strawberry Aquduct. By nature spawning trout are attracted by current. If this 227 |
