Water Impoundments Sample Clauses

Water Impoundments. Water impoundments may impact boreal toads in three ways: 1) by direct alteration of breeding or adult habitat sites through dam building and flooding; 2) by flooding egg development sites when impounded waters exceed 1 ft. (0.3 m) in depth; and 3) by eliminating or reducing periodic flooding that creates breeding sites downstream of impoundments.

Water Impoundments. Encourage land owners and managers to consult with the Boreal Toad Recovery Team prior to altering impoundments that occur in occupied breeding territories or in unoccupied but suitable habitats that are identified for boreal toad recovery. Boreal toad habitat can be developed by creating shallow shoreline margins in newly constructed impoundments. If boreal toad egg masses are located within an impoundment maintain water levels to ensure successful hatching. Impacts can occur from both exposing and flooding egg masses. Small impoundments that regularly dry up and that are dry before tadpole metamorphosis should be deepened, retaining water at a depth of at least 1 ft. (0.3 m) with gently sloping banks so that water is sufficient for egg development. Prior to deepening habitat that typically dries up make certain that the water retained does not feed other more important downstream breeding areas. Ensure that water flow out of impoundments in occupied drainages is adequate to maintain downstream boreal toad breeding habitat. Operate impoundment waterflow to mimic the natural hydrograph of the drainage. Apply management recommendations at the time of permitting new construction at new and existing impoundments that occur in occupied or unoccupied but suitable toad habitat. Work within wetland habitat is permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and it is therefore appropriate to provide them pertinent information, maps, and mitigation measures during the early phases of project coordination.