WSP09374

• File Number: 8149.911
• Description: PSOP Background
• Basin: Arkansas
• Date: 3/1/2000
• Author: Montgomery Watson
• Title: Envirionmental Issues Prepared for Arkansas Basin Future Water and Storage Needs Assessment Enterprise
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

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236 ,1 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
"j: ARKANSAS BASIN FUTURE WATER AND STORAGE NEEDS ASSESSMENT ENTERPRISE

development projects that impact fish and wildlife resources. The FWS and CDOW would be
commenting agencies for federal actions and authorizations that could affect wildlife and aquatic

resources.

Assumptions for Analysis
The following assumptions were made in the environmental evaluation of alternatives:

Alterations in existing streamflow below project facilities may result in a decrease or
increase in wetlands or riparian habitat. Potential impacts to wetlands and riparian
habitat on the Arkansas River, Willianls Creek, Fountain Creek, or other effected streams
were not addressed in this evaluation, but will need to be considered in future studies.

Pipelines, canals, and other ancillary facilities associated with each project may cause
temporary adverse environmental impacts, but these impacts can be fully mitigated and
are unlikely to be a fatal flaw.

Adverse impacts associated with borrow areas are possible but were not addressed in this
evaluation.

The evaluation of alternatives was preliminary; additional data collection, field studies,
modeling and analysis would be necessary to determine specific environmental impacts
associated with each alternative.

The potential impact to aquatic resources associated with changes in streamflow,
reservoir operation, and water quality are complex and would require detailed analysis to
assess impacts.

Overview of Storage Project Alternatives
The following six storage project alternatives have been reviewed and evaluated for their
potential environmental effects:

Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Reoperation;
Pueblo Reservoir Enlargement;
Turquoise Reservoir Enlargement;
Lake Meredith Enlargement;
Storage in Gravel Lakes; and
Proposed Williams Creek Reservoir Enlargement.

This environmental evaluation views each alternative in isolation; that is, the potential for
alternatives to be used in combination is not considered, except for the potential changes in basin
hydrology. Some alternatives have multiple options. This environmental evaluation focuses on

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