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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initiated. South of and near the reservoir, the land is primarily rolling sand dunes that are now
covered with grasses and sagebrush with a few bluffs and rock outcrops near the reservoir. The
area is scenic and the natural shortgrass landscape north of the reservoir is reminiscent of the
1840s Santa Fe Trail. The Santa Fe National Historic Trail is located on Project land on the
north side of the reservoir. The area is unique, in the sense that the John Martin Project,
occupying land along both sides of the Arkansas River, offers the largest undeveloped expanse of
'natural areas' land in southeastern Colorado. The Project therefore has preserved the visual
qualities of an historic period and the associated open natural landscape of a bygone era.

The no-action alternative would have no effect on the existing conditions of visual quality
in the John Martin area. Although visitation to the Project is steadily increasing, the Corps and
Colorado State Parks do not anticipate any significant changes in visitation resulting from the
proposed transfer of management to the State of Colorado; therefore, CSP's proposal and the
South Beach Alternative would have no effect on existing visual quality.

Proposed construction of a new campground at the Overlook Recreation Area, as
described in the CSP proposal and the South Beach Alternative, however, would disturb the
existing natural landscape. The Corps' management of the norlhshore upland has not resulted in
development beyond vault toilets and parking lots.

While campers and their recreation vehicles currently stay in the Lake Hasty Campground
below the dam, those that do camp around the reservoir affect the views of the landscape only
temporarily and primarily on weekends. Camping around the reservoir does not necessarily
interfere with the view of the horizon and while views of a reservoir are not natural when
compared to the Arkansas River of the 1840s, Colorado State Parks' proposed construction of a
new campground in the Overlook Recreation Area would result in a permanent visual
interruption. The proposed campground, to be located along either side of the Overlook access
road, includes the construction of three campground loops; two (2) to be constructed in Phase I
and one (I) during Phase II. Each campground loop would disturb about 15 acres of land and
would include a vault toilet building and 25 campsites with picnic table, picnic (shade) shelters,
and fire-ring. The hilltop where the proposed campground would be located is the most
prominent hilltop on the entire Project and a campground on the hilltop would be easily visible
from nearly all of the John Martin Project. The north end of the proposed campground is located
within about 1/4 mile of the Santa Fe Trail and within 1/2 mile of a preserved trail segment
where the Daughters of the American Revolution placed a granite Santa Fe Trail marker in 1903.
Therefore, the CSP proposal and the South Beach Alternative, by disturbing approximately 50
acres of open public land located north of the reservoir, would have a minor impact on the visual
quality of one of the last remaining natural areas along Colorado's Arkansas River.

3.2 BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES

3.2.1 Vegetation Communities

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