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<br />13. If appropriate due to the location of potential borrow sites in prairie-dog towns <br />suspected of supporting black-footed ferrets, conduct ferret sUIVeys according to FWS <br />guidelines. (It is unlikely that ferrets occur but, if found, an alternate borrow area would be <br />used.) <br /> <br />14. Specify in construction agreements that work will be halted if any Federally-listed <br />threatened or endangered species is being adversely affected by activities. Consult with the <br />FWS to identify measures to protect the species. <br /> <br />Alternatives Eliminated From Consideration <br /> <br />The FR/FES describes alternatives eliminated early in the planning process. They did not <br />pass viability tests for completeness, effectiveness, efficiency, and/or acceptability. <br /> <br />. Concrete line about 98 miles of deteriorated canal and lateral sections. <br />. Line the system with PVC membrane (plastic), except place 31 miles in pipe. <br />. Retire about 8,000 to 12,000 acres of poor quality lands from irrigation. <br />. Line all canals, pipe all laterals and sprinkler irrigate 70 percent of project lands. <br /> <br />Four alternatives were analyzed in the FR/FES, but not selected. They continue to be less <br />effective than the 1984 Plan (plan A-2) or the current East Side Laterals Project: <br /> <br />Plan A-I: Line 515 miles of canals and laterals with concrete and place 31 miles in <br />pipe (on both sides of the valley). Develop about 4,600 acres of habitat replacement lands. <br />Plan B: Similar to Plan A-2 (i.e., concrete-line 254 miles of canals and laterals on <br />the east side), except 19 miles of laterals would be piped. <br />Plan C: Similar to Plan A-I, except earth lining would be used. <br />Plan D: Similar to Plan A-2, except place 19 miles of the laterals in pipe. <br /> <br />Summary Comparison of Alternatives <br /> <br />Table 3 highlights changes from the 1984 Plan proposed by the East Side Laterals Project. <br /> <br />For the No Action, 1984 Plan or East Side Laterals Project, lining of canals would continue <br />to be deferred due to high costs. If fully implemented, both the 1984 Plan or the East Side <br />Laterals Project should reduce salt contributions to the Colorado River from the laterals by <br />63,880 tons. The East Side Laterals Project would remove salts at a lower annual cost (i.e., <br />$70/ton instead of $120Iton). If No Action is taken, minor reductions in salt loading would <br />occur due to nonnal system operation and maintenance activities by the UVWUA. Full <br />implementation of either plan would cause greater losses to wildlife habitat than No Action, <br />but losses would be replaced. The East Side Laterals Project separately identifies <br />replacement actions for each system. <br /> <br />12 <br />