News Release Archive

Bureau of Reclamation Seeks Public Comments on Proposed Acquisition of Riparian Habitat Within the San Pedro River Floodplain

Media Contact: Patricia Cox, (623) 773-6214, pacox@lc.usbr.gov
Sandra Eto , seto@lc.usbr.gov

For Release: April 25, 2006

Before preparing a draft Environmental Assessment on its proposal to acquire land to benefit the federally endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher, the Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public input on the issues and concerns that should be addressed in that document.

Under the proposed action, Reclamation would purchase up to an estimated 73 acres of privately owned land from willing sellers within the active floodplain of the San Pedro River, approximately 9 miles south of San Manuel in Pinal County, Ariz. This acreage is considered to be potentially suitable nesting habitat for the willow flycatcher. Salt River Project would be responsible for managing the property in perpetuity to protect riparian habitat for the primary benefit of the willow flycatcher.

The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's 1996 Biological Opinion on Reclamation's construction of modifications to Theodore Roosevelt Dam obligated Reclamation to establish a willow flycatcher management fund and to use the fund to benefit existing willow flycatcher populations and promote survival of the species. Activities that were identified for the fund's use include habitat acquisition, procurement of conservation easements, and other measures approved by the FWS.

The public is invited to submit comments regarding any issues and concerns that should be addressed in the EA. The full Notice of Public Scoping including Figures 1 and 2, maps of the area indicating the proposed acreage, can be viewed on the Phoenix Area Office website at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/phoenix/ or a hard copy can be obtained by calling the Environmental Resource Management Division at 623-773-6251 or e-mailing rkonst@lc.usbr.gov . Questions regarding the scoping notice may be directed to Sandra Eto at 623-773-6254. Comments should be mailed to Eto at the Bureau of Reclamation, Phoenix Area Office, PXAO-1500, 6150 West Thunderbird Rd., Glendale AZ 85306-4001or faxed to (623) 773-6481, no later than May 19, 2006.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.