WSP09389

• File Number: 8111
• Description: Arkansas River Compact Administration
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/21/2001
• Author: Corps of Engineers
• Title: Finding-No Significant Impact - Final EIS - John Martin Dam-Reservoir Project - Lease Agreement-Transfer Management of Recreation Areas-Surface Water - Corps of Engineers to CO State Parks
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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Finding of No Significant Impact

Lease Agreement that Would Transfer Management of Several Recreation Areas and
Surface Water at John Martin Dam and Reservoir Project, Bent County, Colorado, from
the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Colorado State Parks.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps), Albuquerque District, is planning to transfer,
via a 25-year lease, the management of several recreation areas and management of surface
water at John Martin Reservoir, Bent County, Colorado, to Colorado State Parks, effective
1\
October I, 2001.

The John Martin Dam and Reservoir Project is located on the Arkansas River near the
communities of Caddo a and Hasty, and is approximately 15 river-miles downstream of Las
Animas, Colorado, 18 river-miles upstream from Lamar, Colorado, and 58 river-miles upstream
from the Colorado-Kansas state line.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, public scoping by
the Corps regarding this federal action was conducted in the fall of 2000_ A draft Environmental
Assessment (EA) was released on April 6, 200 I, and public comments were accepted through
May 15,2001.

The potential effects of this proposed action are judged to be superior in qualitative and
quantitative benefits to the ecological, cultural, and hydrologic resources at the Jolm Martin
Project, as compared to the no-action and other viable alternatives. Conservation measures to
minimize any potential adverse consequences to the federally listed interior least tern and piping
plover are specified in the draft biological opinion issued by the Colorado Ecological Services
Office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which is appended to the final EA docwnent.
Additionally, no archaeological sites on the proposed lease area will be affected. Appended is a
draft programmatic agreement between the Corps, the Colorado State Historic Preservation
Office and Colorado State Parks, outlining how the Corps and CSP would handle Section 106
responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act. The enclosed final EA further
concludes that there are no significant adverse social or economic effects to the local and
regional community by the action of the selected alternative.

In consideration of the analysis presented in the final EA, the proposed lease is found to
have no significant impacts on the hwnan environment and is recommended for implementation.
Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement will not be prepared for this federal action.
Further, this action has been determined to be in compliance with the Endangered Species Act,
the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, as well as
pertinent state and \ocallaws and regulations. The planned action has been fully coordinated
with federal, state, and local agencies and departments of government with jurisdiction over the
ecological, cultural, and hydrologic resources of the proposed lease area.