The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Salt River Project (SRP) invite public review, suggestions, and comments to plans designed to offset the effects of Roosevelt Dam operation on populations of threatened and endangered birds. SRP has developed a draft Habitat Conservation Plan for the operation of Roosevelt Dam and water levels in Roosevelt reservoir that may result in the flooding of recently established habitat occupied by breeding southwestern willow flycatchers and three other rare bird species. In turn, SRP will seek a Service permit to "take" endangered flycatchers and Yuma clapper rails, threatened bald eagles and yellow-billed cuckoos (a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection), and their habitat that may occur as a result of the routine operation of Roosevelt Dam and refilling of the reservoir.
Since 1996, lower-than-usual rainfall and snow-melt have resulted in lowered water levels at Lake Roosevelt. Nearly seven years of declining water levels have exposed the nutrient rich sediment deposited where Tonto Creek and the Salt River flow into the reservoir. Dense riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian vegetation, principally non-native salt cedar, has been established on both deltas. The new habitat has resulted in the immigration and expansion of southwestern willow flycatcher and yellow-billed cuckoo populations during their summer breeding season
