background RC. Arizona Dam hope that helps

Arizona Dam Operator Would "Take" Protected Species

First:

Dams have long been acknowledged for providing electricity without the pollution of other methods, for flood protection, and for making water available for agriculture and human needs. Within recent decades, however, the environmental impacts of dams have been debated. While dams do perform important functions, their effects can be damaging to the environment. People have begun to question whether the positive contributions of some dams are outweighed by those negative effects. Because water is held behind the dam and often released from some depth, the temperature of the water below the dam is usually lower than it would be prior to dam emplacement. The temperature of the water flow is often constant, not reflecting the natural seasonal variations that would have been the case in the free-flowing river. Similarly, the chemistry of the water may be altered. Water exiting the lake may be higher in dissolved salts or have lower oxygen levels than would be the case for a free-flowing river.The environmental changes described above create a new environment in which native species may or may not be able to survive. New species frequently invade such localities, further disrupting the system. Early photographs of rivers in the southwest desert illustrate the dramatic modern invasion of non-native plants. Entire lengths of these rivers and streams have been transformed from native desert plants to a dense riparian environment. Native species that formerly lived in this zone have been replaced as a result of the changes in river flow patterns. The most commonly cited species affected by the presence of dams is the salmon. Salmon have been isolated from their spawning streams by impassable dams. The situation has been addressed through the use of fish ladders and by the use of barges to transport the fish around the obstacles, but with only limited success.

Third:

PHOENIX, Arizona, July 24, 2007 (ENS) - One of Arizona's largest utilities, the Salt River Project, SRP, has requested a permit to "take" sensitive and federally protected species and damage their habitat by its continued operation of the Horseshoe and Bartlett dams on the Verde River to provide water to the Phoenix area.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is evaluating the issuance of such a permit in light of the Salt River Project's draft habitat conservation plan that commits to reducing, minimizing and offsetting effects to species covered by the plan for 50 years. Public comments are welcome by September 18.

Species listed under the federal Endangered Species Act are protected from "take," including killing, harassment or harm resulting from altering or destroying their habitat.

The Service may however, under limited circumstances, issue permits to take federally listed species when such a taking is incidental to - and not the purpose of - otherwise lawful activities and the taking does not jeopardize the continued existence of the species.

The Service is evaluating the Salt River Project's draft Habitat Conservation Plan and considering issuing a permit for the incidental take of endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, razorback sucker, Colorado pikeminnow and Gila topminnow; threatened spikedace and loach minnow, and bald eagle.

Reservoir operations can also favor nonnative fish species that prey upon or compete with the Verde River's native fishes, leopard frogs, and gartersnakes.

The plan also addresses nine unlisted species, the yellow-billed cuckoo, roundtail chub, longfin and speckled daces, Sonora and desert suckers, northern Mexican and narrow-headed gartersnakes and lowland leopard frog, and seeks permits should those species be federally listed in the future.

In its draft Environmental Impact Statement, EIS, the Service supports issuance of the permit with the addition of operating objectives to support stands of tall riparian vegetation at the upper end of Horseshoe to minimize impacts to covered bird species, and management of Horseshoe Reservoir levels to minimize impacts to covered native fish, frog, and gartersnake species.

Steve Spangle, the Service's Arizona Field Office Supervisor, said, "SRP has developed a flexible dam operation program that will benefit and rejuvenate riparian habitat at Horseshoe Reservoir and give native fishes, frogs and gartersnakes of the lower Verde basin a real recovery opportunity."

Salt River Project is committing to manage reservoir levels to favor willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo habitat, while minimizing the production of nonnative fishes that threaten sensitive aquatic species.

Additionally, riverside habitat will be acquired along the Verde and Gila rivers for covered bird species, a fish barrier will be constructed to exclude nonnative fish from Lime Creek to protect native fish and leopard frogs, and a State native fish hatchery will be expanded for the production and stocking of native fish.

In total, Salt River Project and the City of Phoenix are committing up to $8.8 million in habitat acquisition and management, native fish production and stocking, and monitoring over the 50 year period.

The Service and Salt River Project will hold a public meeting to accept oral and written comments on August 29 from 6-9 p.m., at the administration offices of the Salt River Project, 1521 N. Project Drive, Tempe, Arizona.

Written comments on the draft EIS and HCP should be received by September 18, 2007. Email: Horseshoe-BartlettHCP@fws.gov.

The draft EIS, SRP's draft HCP and supporting documents are online at: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/HCPs.htm.

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