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<br />FONSI - Jl~d80fWater Works of Pueblo <br /> <br />I .... <br />" ..' <br /> <br />J,ulY 2000 <br /> <br />~ l. . <br /> <br />that which would have occurred with the smaller-diameter pipe. Other than a slightly wider ,'. <br />trench in some areas, there are no other environmental affects associated with increasing the <br />diameter of the pipe. A notice was distributed on May 22, 2000 seeking comment on the <br />proposed modification. No comments were received. Connection to the pipeline and conveying <br />water through It by CSU or others will require independent compliance with NEPA and other <br />applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. This compliance will be accomplished <br />when CSU requests a contract from Reclamation. <br /> <br />In addition, the Board has agreed to realign a portion of the upper pipeline to avoid a vegetative <br />community used as a long-term research site by Reclamation's Technical Services Center. The <br />realignment will reduce the overall length of the pipeline and disturb grassland habitat instead of <br />the saltcedar community where the biological control research is ongoing, <br /> <br />Construction of a pipeline and connection to the South Outlet Works was considered during the <br />development of the environmental impact statement for the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project and <br />during development of the environmental impact statement for construction of Pueblo Dam and <br />Reservoir. In anticipation of future needs and at the request of the Board, the South Outlet <br />Works was incorporated into Pueblo Dam at the time of construction. <br /> <br />This EA also provides NEPA compliance for a long-term contract for the storage of up to 15,000 <br />ac-ft of non-project water on an "if and when" basis in Pueblo Reservoir. "If and when" storage <br />space is located in the flood control, joint use, and/or conservation pools when operational <br />criteria allow additional storage in a particular year. It is likely that little, or no, storage would be <br />available during wet years. Long-term access to "if and when" space would permit the Board to <br />continue to exchange water in Turquoise and Twin lakes with the cities of Colorado Springs and <br />Aurora and other entities, as well as to store the Board's storable water rights. This allows the <br />Board to place water in "if and when" space for use at the Intakes instead of delivering water <br />from the upper basin reservoirs. This will improve operational efficiency in the Board's water <br />supply system. The contract with the Board will be for a period of 25 years. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF THE PROPOSED ACTION <br /> <br />Wherever possible, adverse environmental effects of pipeline construction will be avoided. <br />Where adverse effects are unavoidable, impacts will be minimized to the maximum extent <br />possible. All adverse effects will be mitigated so that any residual effects will be negligible. <br /> <br />PiDeline Construction Effects <br /> <br />Water Quality. Turbidity in the Arkansas River will increase during installation of the cofferdam <br />and pipeline across the Arkansas River. Water quality in the reservoir will not be affected. <br /> <br />Wildlife Habitat - Approximately 59 acres of riparian and grassland habitat will be temporarily <br />affected during construction. Approximately 3,500 feet of the pipeline across Reclamation <br />property will be in riparian habitat resulting in disturbance of up to nine acres of riparian forest <br />habitat. The remainder of the pipeline corridor that will be disturbed consist of weedy <br />grasslands, roadways, abandoned railroad right-of-way, and other previously-disturbed areas. <br /> <br />Fisheries. Reduced winter stream flows may adversely affect native and non-native fish and <br />other aquatic organisms. These reductions would be minor when compared to reductions <br /> <br />'iil <br />