Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs Submitted to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Submitted by: Salt River Project July 2007 Attachment 1 Draft Habitat Conservation Plan Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs SUBMITTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 10(A)(1)(B) OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT JULY 2007 Additional information may be obtained from: Craig Sommers Chuck Paradzick ERO Resources Corporation Salt River Project 1842 Clarkson Street P.O. Box 52025 Denver, Colorado 80218 Phoenix, Arizona 85072-2025 (303) 830-1188 (602) 236-2724 DRAFT HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN FOR HORSESHOE AND BARTLETT RESERVOIRS Contents Executive Summary.......................................................................................................ES-1 I. Background.................................................................................................................1 A. Description of the Action, Purpose and Need for the HCP .....................................3 B. Scope of the Habitat Conservation Plan for Horseshoe and Bartlett.......................5 1. Species Covered.................................................................................................5 2. Geographical Area Covered...............................................................................7 3. Environmental Baseline.....................................................................................8 4. Time Period Covered .........................................................................................8 5. Impacts Covered................................................................................................8 C. Goals and Objectives of the HCP ............................................................................9 D. Public Involvement in the HCP .............................................................................10 E. Description of Applicant and Beneficiaries...........................................................11 1. The Applicant...................................................................................................11 2. HCP Beneficiaries............................................................................................12 F. Description of SRP System, Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs, and Reservoir Operations ...................................................................................................14 1. Overview..........................................................................................................15 2. History..............................................................................................................15 3. Overall Reservoir Operations ..........................................................................18 4. Horseshoe and Bartlett.....................................................................................19 II. Alternatives...............................................................................................................23 A. Formulation and Evaluation of Alternatives..........................................................23 1. Compliance With the ESA...............................................................................23 2. Impacts on Listed, Candidate, and Other Covered Species.............................24 3. Public Input......................................................................................................24 4. Impacts on Water Rights and Deliveries .........................................................24 5. Extent and Feasibility of Minimization and Mitigation Measures ..................25 6. FWS Guidance.................................................................................................25 B. Alternatives Examined in Detail............................................................................25 1. No Permit Alternative......................................................................................27 2. Modified Historical Operation Alternative......................................................29 3. Optimum Operation Alternative (Proposed Action)........................................30 C. Alternatives Eliminated From Further Consideration............................................32 III. Affected Resources...................................................................................................37 A. Covered Species and Other Wildlife......................................................................37 1. Covered Species...............................................................................................37 2. Other Listed and Rare Species.........................................................................71 B. Other Affected Resources......................................................................................78 1. Water Resources..............................................................................................78 2. Recreation ........................................................................................................85 i 3. Geology and Geomorphology..........................................................................89 4. Vegetation........................................................................................................91 IV. Impact Analysis......................................................................................................103 A. Area of Analysis and Tools Used in the Analysis ...............................................103 1. Reservoir Operation Model............................................................................103 2. Flycatcher Habitat Model ..............................................................................104 3. AGFD Model – 11.1-acre Neighborhood as Essential Habitat......................109 B. Impacts of the Optimum Operation Alternative (Proposed Action)....................110 1. Impacts on Flycatchers ..................................................................................110 2. Impacts on Bald Eagles..................................................................................123 3. Impacts on Cuckoos.......................................................................................132 4. Impacts on Native Fish ..................................................................................133 5. Impacts on Frog and Gartersnake Species.....................................................143 6. Impacts on Listed and Rare Plants, and Other Listed Wildlife and Species of Concern ........................................................................................143 7. Impacts on Water Resources..........................................................................144 8. Impacts on Recreation....................................................................................144 9. Impacts on Geology and Geomorphology .....................................................144 10. Impacts on Vegetation ...................................................................................144 11. Cumulative Effects on Covered Species........................................................145 12. Summary of Indirect Effects on Covered Species .........................................146 C. Impacts of the No Permit and Modified Historical Operation Alternatives ........147 1. No Permit Alternative....................................................................................147 2. Modified Historical Operation Alternative....................................................151 V. Actions to Minimize, Mitigate, Monitor, and Manage the Impacts of Optimum Operation of Horseshoe and Bartlett................................................................................155 A. Relationship of the HCP to Recovery Plans ........................................................155 1. Southwestern Willow Flycatcher Recovery Plan ..........................................155 2. Razorback Recovery Plan and Goals.............................................................159 3. Spikedace and Loach Minnow Recovery Plans.............................................160 B. Overview of Minimization and Mitigation, Monitoring, and Adaptive Management Measures ..............................................................................................161 1. Minimization and Mitigation .........................................................................161 2. Monitoring .....................................................................................................162 3. Adaptive Management...................................................................................163 C. Minimization, Mitigation, Monitoring, and Management Measures for Covered Bird Species.................................................................................................163 1. Minimize Impacts at Horseshoe.....................................................................164 2. Mitigation Habitat Acquisition and Management..........................................165 3. Monitoring for Covered Bird Species............................................................179 4. Adaptive Management for Covered Bird Species .........................................182 D. Minimization, Mitigation, Monitoring, and Management Measures for Covered Native Fish, Frog, and Gartersnake Species................................................187 1. Methods..........................................................................................................188 ii 2. Minimization and Mitigation Measures, Management and Maintenance...................................................................................................190