corresponding wildlife mitigation proposal. All affected federal and state agencies, tribes and the 

 project operator participated in the development and review of the mitigation proposal. 



a. Wildlife Losses. The method used to evaluate the net impacts to wildlife as a result of 

 the Palisades project was a habitat-based approach using the Habitat Evaluation Procedure. An 

 interagency work group of biologists selected evaluation species to represent important species 

 groups or species of special concern. Impacts to evaluation species were measured in terms of 

 the difference between pre- and post-construction habitat units. The Idaho Department of Fish and 

 Game states that all project impacts are attributable to hydroelectric development since the project 

 was economically unfeasible without the hydropower component. Accordingly, the agency 

 attributes lOO percent of the wildlife impacts to hydropower development. 



b. Mitigation Proposal. From the loss statement, the Idaho Department of Fish and 

 Game and the interagency work group agreed that a reasonable mitigation goal would be to 

 protect and/or enhance the same number of target species habitat units that were lost due to 

 inundation. Furthermore, it was agreed that wildlife should be protected and enhanced in both 

 Idaho and Wyoming to reflect each state's wildlife impacts. The mitigation proposal used the 

 estimated habitat lost (approximately 37,068 habitat units for several target species) as a guideline 

 for developing mitigation objectives, while also considering the needs of wildlife in the area. 

 Operation and maintenance funds are proposed for the life of the hydropower project. To achieve 

 the stated goal, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and the interagency team suggest the 

 following proposals: 



• Bald Eagle and nongame riparian species: Protect by easement or acquisition and 

 enhance 5,825 acres of riparian habitat, preferably along the South Fork and Henrys 

 Fork of the Snake River. Enhance bald eagle nest sites in the vicinity of Palisades 

 Reservoir. Establish bald eagle winter perches on the Market Lake and Mud Lake 

 Wildlife Management Areas. 



• Big Game (Elk and Mule Deer): Protect by easement or acquisition and enhance 

 13,790 acres of big game winter range in eastern Idaho, preferably in Sand Creek or 

 Swan Valley areas. 



• Waterfowl/Aquatic Furbearers: Enhance habitat in the Market Lake and Mud Lake 

 Wildlife Management Areas and in the upper end of the reservoir. Protect by 

 easement or acquisition 1 ,000 acres in the Grays Lake area. 



• Ruffed Grouse: Enhance 4,928 acres of aspen forest in the Bridger-Teton National 

 Forest Enhancement will include prescribed burning and other methods to stimulate 

 aspen regeneration. 



• Peregrine Falcon: Establish and maintain for at least 10 years three reintroduction 

 sites near the reservoir. 



13./ See footnote 7. 



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