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<br />SUMMARY (Continued) <br /> <br />The existing interconnected transmission system is not adequate <br />to accommodate the power which would be generated by the recommended <br />plan. As a result, the Western Area Power Administration (Western) <br />of the U.S. Department of Energy is investigating modifications to the <br />Colorado River Storage Project system which would be required to provide <br />the necessary transmission service. Additionally, Western is investi- <br />gat ing the poss ibil i ty of wheeling thi s power over other ut il ities I <br />existing transmission lines and the construction of new lines. <br /> <br />Summary of Environmental Impacts <br /> <br />Summary Table 2 is a comparison of net environmental impacts which <br />would result from implementation of the five alternatives, including <br />mitigation measures. The impacts are compared to future conditions <br />expected without additional Federal development of the Bonneville Unit, <br />although facilities to deliver the 197,600 acre-feet of water from the <br />Uinta Basin to the Bonneville Basin without power generation would be the <br />minimum required to maintain the basic integrity of the Bonneville <br />Unit. The future without condition is used as a basis for comparison <br />because impacts resulting from the delivery system without power genera- <br />tion were not previously evaluated. <br /> <br />Temporary and permanent impacts on topography and scenery would <br />result from the construction of reservoirs, powerplants, transmission <br />lines, and roads, and the upgrading of existing roads. Construction- <br />related mitigation measures would include the contouring, topsoiling, and <br />revegetation of these areas. Revegetation of native grasses, shrubs, and <br />forbs would probably take about 5 to 10 years, whereas pinyon-juniper, <br />mountain brush, and riparian communities would require about 25 years to <br />return to conditions visually comparable to those existing. The scenic <br />quality of the reservoirs would vary depending on water level fluctua- <br />tions. During periods of low water, mudflats around the shoreline would <br />detract from the esthetic appeal and recreational use. Powerline corri- <br />dors have been alined to limit adverse visual impacts on scenery. <br /> <br />Both permanent and temporary losses of vegetation would occur <br />primarily to reseeded grass, mountain brush, and pinyon-juniper commun- <br />ities. Permanent losses of vegetation, mostly from reservoir inun- <br />dation, would total about 1,000 acres for the recommended plan, including <br />about 45 acres of scarce riparian habitat. Temporary losses of vegeta- <br />tion, mostly from construction of the Diamond Fork Pipeline and develop- <br />ment of borrow areas, would total about 400 acres, most of which is <br />reseeded and mountain brush communities. <br /> <br />The construction of two large reservoirs on Diamond Fork and Fifth <br />Water Creek would inundate floodplains and cause the loss of 47 acres of <br />existing stream and associated riparian vegetation. In exchange, these <br />reservoirs would provide 920 acres of wetland habitat but, because of <br />fluctuating water levels associated with the peaking power operation, the <br />exchange habitat would not be considered high quality. Additionally, 28 <br /> <br />S-s <br />