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<br />OJZ75n <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />;:;~;;:;<::~;:;;<;,::";::::-::;;;:;;;:,::<;:;;~::;:=:<; :~:: ::-::<:~;..;<:::::.;::::<:.::~;;.:: "::i: ':;;:::::~; ::,:<,:-::; <:.~::"~:" ~:>>::~:;:=:;~~:":::::": "::::,:;: ; ;;:::-'<;;:':'::::<,;::.;:::::<;:;;;::~:<:;::< :..:,:::::~;::":":~' ':;:;,:-::<;:::;:;;:<:;.:":": ':~": ;<:::;;<~i:":::~ '::;:;<:<;::::::::::=:~;.::"<<:.::'~;:':9:;V::":::::::':;:::.:;";::::<:. ::=::,:=::. ~<'::::<; <br /> <br />. Greater O&M costs (resulting in higher water rates) associated with additional <br />treatment and pumping . <br /> <br />. Higher power requirements for pumping (resulting in increased utilization of non- <br />renewable energy resources and increased air pollution) <br /> <br />MITIGATION DEFINED UNDER THE PROPOSED ACTION <br /> <br />The impact analysis indicates that without mitigation, environmental consequences from permitting <br />the expansion of the reservoir would result in a number of negative impacts, including: 15.09 acres <br />of wetlands would be impacted; Granite Campground, parking area, and a portion of a service road <br />would be inundated; the City and Mt. Werner would incur debt; recreation activities would be <br />disrupted for a period of twO years during construction; roads providing access to the area would <br />be affected from impacts of heavy construction machinery; fish would be lost; and water supply <br />would be affected during construction. <br /> <br />Through the use of mitigation measures, all negative impacts could be eliminated or reduced to <br />acceptable levels. Mitigation specific to the Proposed Action includes, but is not limited to: <br /> <br />Wetlands - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) requires a 404 permit for the dredge and fill <br />activities associated with the Proposed Action. Existing wetlands would be lost through <br />implementation of the Proposed Action and replaced through mitigation. A wetlands mitigation <br />plan has been developed and submitted to the COE. Additionally, off-site mitigation is presently <br />being discussed and a mix of on-site and off-site wetlands mitigation is being considered. Off-site <br />mitigation is being proposed on an area of land along the Yampa River that is owned by the City. <br />A replacement ratio of 1.5 acres for every 1.0 acre of wetlands lost is being suggested. The <br />immediate short-term goal for mitigation would be to artificially construct wetlands of similar size <br />and configuration to those that would be directly or indirectly impacted under the Proposed Action. <br />The long-term goal would be to ensure that the artificially constructed wetlands provide equivalent <br />functions and values as those impacted. <br /> <br />Puppy Do~ Lake Drainage - The Forest Service has identified a need for change in the current <br />operation of the reservoir system to control the erosion and channel degradation taking place in the <br />Puppy Dog Lake drainage. The proposed expansion would increase the water storage capacity <br />available to comain spring runoff flows, increase the outlet capacity of the main dam into the Middle <br />Fork of Fish Creek, and allow for remote operation of the outlet structure. These design features <br />would allow operation of the reservoir to be altered such that a greater portion of spring runoff <br />flows could be stored, and/or released through the main outlet structure, in order to reduce flow <br />volumes released through the spillway. Restoration of degraded areas would occur both naturally <br />and through manual restoration efforts. Monitoring of channel flows would occur. <br /> <br />Water Deoletion - Depletion of water from the reservoir and stream system would be mitigated in <br />the form of a payment by the applicants to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, per their depletion <br />formula (See Appendix J, Biological Assessment). <br /> <br />Water Rights - Under the Proposed Action, 200 AF of storage capacity would be released to <br />augment in-stream flows in Fish Creek below the intake to the water filtration plant. A stipulation <br />has been reached between the City and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) to meet <br />this CWCB junior in-stream flow right. <br /> <br />.; : ~:<< .~:::::;:.;..;~::..,,:;*-":<:": : ::::::;:'i<:::X::--:- ~:-;<:;;";::::':::<<';:S::::::-0;'.:':- xy:.: ,-:.:::.:..: x': ~:::..,,=,:<:<.:::::.::~: ~~::" :~:;:~~:::.;~;::.~: '~:::'. .,.'-':''':~ : ::::';::"~~;::::,.:. :~". ~'.w:< : ~:::m.:-x~.:-'~'~~: ,,,':.,:~'::: ~~ ~:;::';:;: :..;:.,~....,: X;:::;::---:;::~::::" '::'::::';::-:.,::.::;:-,~:;:;:.;;-::;:,:~:..:,.,: :.~ ::;::'::=--.' :.: <br /> <br />September 1993 <br /> <br />Page S.13 <br />