WSP08712

• File Number: 8149.700
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - Homestake Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 4/25/1974
• Author: Black and Veatch
• Title: Environmental Impact Report - Homestake Water Collection System Extension for Aurora and Colorado Springs with related documents Volume I
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

(2) Clearance of 497 acres of forest cover and other vegetation
for project components. resulting in habitat loss and some animal
kill.

(14) Displacement and destruction of an indetermin~ number
of fish and other wildlife during the construction peri.
W

(15) Increased noise level due to blasting and tunnelili'g during
the construction period.

(3) Inundation of Homestake, Hornsilver, and Blodgett Camp-
grounds for the Iron Mountain Reservoir, resulting in the loss of
24 camping units.

(16) Increased level of dust in the air due to construction
activities.

(4) Reduction of 275 acres of privately owned lands within the
Project Area, primarily for reservoir construction.

(17) Increased potential for forest fires due to construction
activity.

(5) Reduction of 288 acres of wet meadowlands due to reser-
vOIr construction on Homestake Creek and water diversion on
Fall and Cross Creeks, resulting in habitat destruction and some
loss of indigenous, marsh wildlife.

(18) Increased generation of litter during the construction per-
iod.

(6) I nundation of 6,2 miles of Homestake Creek due to reser-
voir construction.

( 19) I ncreased pressure for community services (education,
police, utilities, etc.) in the commu nities of Minturn, Red Cliff,
Gilman. and Vail during the construction period, followed by a
surplus of facilities and skilled services when construction is
completed.

(7) Reduction of 41,030 acre-feet of water per annum on the
western slope.

(8) Reduction in downstream flow along 26.4 miles of sustain-
ed streambeds in the Project Area and the Eagle River adjacent
to the Project Area,

(20) Increased potential for rapid urbanization and increased
population growth in the Cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs
with attendant socio-economic problems and costs.

(9) I ncrease in salinity levels on the Lower Colorado River of 3
ppm due to reduction in downstream flow.

(21) Power generation of an additional 109,000,000 kWh per
year for the operation of required pumping. Generation
would probably be by a coal-fired steam plant which would
result in increased air polluation near the generating site, in-
creased alteration of land features in the area from which the
coal is mined. and possible tightening of the supply of electrical
energy in the region.

(10) Increased traffic along Highway 24 and along access roads
into the Project Area during the construction period due to an
influx of approximately 500 construction workers.

(11) Relocation of 2,7 mi les of Highway 24.

The Environmental Effects Evaluation Summary (Table 21) classi-
fies the magnitude of impacts for each alternative plan on a 5
point scale: major adverse, minor adverse, negligible. minor bene-
ficial, major beneficial. This evaluation summary shows that
implementation of Plan A would cause more major adverse

(12) I nstallation of 2,5 miles of new power transmission lines.

(13) Installation of 2.4 miles of new telephone line.

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