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<br />;' -! ... <br />~\...'-.J'.' <br /> <br />Sm1Mi\RY <br /> <br />(X) Draft <br /> <br />() Finitl <br /> <br />Environmental Stittement <br /> <br />Department of the Interior, Bureau of ReclaI!1ation, Region 7 <br /> <br />1. Type of Action: <br /> <br />(X) Administrative <br /> <br />() Legislative <br /> <br />2. Brief description of action: <br /> <br />Public Law 87-590 authorized the Secretary of the Interior to construct <br />the North Side Collection System as a major feature of the Fryingpan- <br />Arkansas Project. The collection system is situated in Pitkin and <br />Engle Counties west of Lendville and northeast of Aspen~ Colo!:"ado, <br />within the \Vhite River National Forest. It consists of an arrangement <br />of diversion dams, conduits, and tunnels designed to intercept and <br />transport an average annual 18,400 acre-feet of runoff from the north <br />tributaries of the Fryingpan River to the Arkansas Valley. Construction <br />began in 1970 ;:md is scheduled for completion in 1977. <br /> <br />3. Summary of environmental impact and adverse environmental effectE: <br /> <br />A. The North Side Collection System will export western slope w"ters <br />to supplement an inadequate east8rn slope i rrig;ltion supply, enable <br />generation of power, and serve mill1icipal and industrial needs <br />Hithin southeastern Colorado. Impoundment of these exported Haters <br />with native waters Hill enhance recreational opportunities on east <br />slope reservoirs. <br /> <br />B. The system will divert an average of 18,400 "cre"feet annually <br />varying from 5,900 acre-feet in a Im.,-flm., year to 30,SOa acnc- <br />feet in n high-flow year from the Colorado River Basin to the <br />eastern slope of the Continental Divide and Arkansas River Valley. <br />This Hill result in n slight incre".se in the salinity of the <br />Colorado River and an improvement of water quality in the Arkansas <br />River. <br /> <br />C. The system Hill require construction of approximately 13 miles of <br />access roads, 11.4 miles of tunnels and conduits, the establish- <br />ment of approximately 19 acres of tunnel-spoil disposal areas nnd <br />the clearing of about 156 acres of vegetation. <br /> <br />D. There will be an nes thetic impact resulting from construc tion of <br />access roads, tunnel portals, conduits, tunnel-spoil areas and <br />vegetative clearing. <br /> <br />E. Stream regimen will be altered by diversions and these diversions <br />will significantly affect the stream aquatic ecosystem. <br />