OCR Text |
Show Strawberry Aqueduct, particularly near the Upper Stillwater and High Uintas Primitive Areas where intrusion by man has been limited. Rare and Endangered Species While the Bonneville Unit would have significant impacts upon the wildlife within the affected area, it would not be expected that the existence of any species of bird, maomal, amphibian, reptile or invertebrate would be threatened. The sandhill crane, prairie falcon, osprey, pine marten, and Canada lynx are found in small numbers within the Unit area and are includad in the Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife's list of rare and endangered species. 23 Construction and operation of the Unit could temporarily disrupt: the life patterns of these species but their existing status would not be altered. Amphibians _ and _ Rep_ t ile s_ While it is expected that the Unit would exert significant impacts upon existing populations of amphibians and reptiles, the amount of available ecological knowledge regarding the relationship of these species to water development projects is limited. Most of the species concerned ( Refer to Attachment E) have wide distributions and are versatile in their adaptive abilities. No species would be threatened with extinction, although desert species of lizards and snakes are expected to be reduced in those areas that would be intensively cultivated and irrigated. 66 Inundation of moist streamside and meadow plant communities would eliminate a considerable amount of habitat for amphibians and reptiles thus adversely impacting local populations. However, in some instances such as with the Strawberry Reservoir Enlargment and Jordanelle Reservoir, extensive areas of suitable, slowly fluctuating, shoreline habitat would be created. Irrigation practices of producing intermittent aquatic habitats are not conducive to development of amphibian populations. |