[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 24]
[Revised as of July 1, 2005]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR230.32]

[Page 267]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 230_SECTION 404(b)(1) GUIDELINES FOR SPECIFICATION OF DISPOSAL 
SITES FOR DREDGED OR FILL MATERIAL--Table of Contents
 
Subpart D_Potential Impacts on Biological Characteristics of the Aquatic 
                                Ecosystem
 
Sec. 230.32  Other wildlife.

    (a) Wildlife associated with aquatic ecosystems are resident and 
transient mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.
    (b) Possible loss of values: The discharge of dredged or fill 
material can result in the loss or change of breeding and nesting areas, 
escape cover, travel corridors, and preferred food sources for resident 
and transient wildlife species associated with the aquatic ecosystem. 
These adverse impacts upon wildlife habitat may result from changes in 
water levels, water flow and circulation, salinity, chemical content, 
and substrate characteristics and elevation. Increased water turbidity 
can adversely affect wildlife species which rely upon sight to feed, and 
disrupt the respiration and feeding of certain aquatic wildlife and food 
chain organisms. The availability of contaminants from the discharge of 
dredged or fill material may lead to the bioaccumulation of such 
contaminants in wildlife. Changes in such physical and chemical factors 
of the environment may favor the introduction of undesirable plant and 
animal species at the expense of resident species and communities. In 
some aquatic environments lowering plant and animal species diversity 
may disrupt the normal functions of the ecosystem and lead to reductions 
in overall biological productivity.

    Note: Possible actions to minimize adverse impacts regarding 
characteristics of biological components of the aquatic ecosystem can be 
found in subpart H.