| OCR Text |
Show 2. problems in implementing the Agreement. There should be a statement in the Agreement to the effect that if the additional quantity cannot be purchased by participators other than the District, or if Congress does not appropriate funds for the purchases, that the deficit will be made up out of the Project's transbasin supply. 0mmissi^n_s_j2j^li^uj^^on^ that if hydrological flow figures, which gr e ^g^--^IL-g^^^oi^^iff^l.cQ^Puter model, do not show~t"hiT~the~ tjie_comgu_terized predic£Ionj^o__n6t sustain 50% historTc~~ad"uIt"""~ trout habitat, then ^correction's will be made. ~ QgEJJ^£i9ils_^_sjge^j^ic inf ormat Lon on consequences of reducing S2£!IlgjL_strjam_nLows to 44JL4^0_a_J__^nual_fjLow QiTTIpaFran~Te^e~ %2^A9nt ..on wetlands, and on floodplains. " "~~~ . These all provide wildlife habitat in National Forests interior Department Water Policy Task Force Reports on Instream Flows state that a criteria of the amount of flow required is t h a t the__bioj1ogical functioned the river must bFiatn^alnen for wildlife habitat, * ~~ " "- - :i_~ Retention of flora and associated fauna dependent upon instream flows can be evaluated as can consequences of reduced flows Inasmuch as the Forest Service is responsible for management of wildlife habiL-at, terms of an Agreement which entirely ommi-ts this aspect of the river resources, violates both an Agencies manaates on public lands as well as Executive Orders which protect habitat, in addition to failing the Water Policy purposes. T h e Forest Service, in pursuit of its mandates, has already carried out extensive research on habitat related to wet and dry meadows which follow alongside the river's flowage in lelation to forest cover on adjacent ridges. A unique characteristic of the Uintas is these sequences of parallel flowing streams ort all sides of the mountain which are abutted by low and high meadows and the forested ridges which separate them. Elk, deer and, other wildlife utilize this food to water to cover relationship. Moreover, an inter-Agency team of fisheries and wildlife biologists in Oregon and Washington recently completed a habitat requirement evaluation and text for all mammals, birds and fish on public lands in those States. Its purpose was to inform the Forest Service how to integrate timber management with wildlife requirements - moving, without interference, for food, water nestging and cover. The information is applicable to all National *- Vs X. fci O L- »D » The agreed upon instream flows do not address river ecosystems and hydrological functioning as watershed. This is the intent of the Water Policy implementations by the responsible Agencies. In addition, this Agency is the lead Agency vpquired to locate and evaluate wetlands and floodplains, as habitat conditions, to implement a purpose of the Water Policy - protecting habitat. " Topographic and hydrologic features of the Uinta Ranqe |
