Impacts from Habitat Management Actions. Habitat management actions implemented to improve near-stream or in-stream conditions for the reintroduced species are expected to benefit the species in the long term. However, in the short term, restoration or enhancement actions could affect reintroduced species. Ground disturbance associated with the planting of vegetative buffers, fence construction, or stormwater capture ponds could result in sediment being transported to the occupied aquatic habitat by a rain event. These impacts are expected to be of a short duration and low intensity, but the benefits of improved habitat are expected to be long term. Similarly, instream actions to improve passage also have the potential to cause short-term increases in turbidity and disturbance, but, long term, connectivity in the local waterbody will be improve. Habitat management actions have the potential to increase turbidity and could lead to behavioral responses (avoidance of the turbid area), injury to xxxx structures (of fish or mussels), or modification of the benthic habitat. These impacts are expected to be of short duration and low intensity and will be offset by long-term improvements to habitat quality. Adverse effects from habitat management actions are expected to affect less than 1% of the total reintroduced population of fish or mussels. For alligator snapping turtles, take from habitat management actions are not expected as a result of increased turbidity or reduced water quality. However, ground disturbance within the riparian zone could affect nests. As mentioned above, incidental take is expected to be offset by the long-term benefit of habitat improvements.
