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<br />"11 , <br /> <br />o <br />o <br />(':) <br />C> <br /> <br />\ <br /> <br />, <br />\ <br /> <br />Design and Construction <br /> <br />Comment 7: "Screening of the laterals off the South Canal should be part of plan." (FWS) <br /> <br />Response 7: Turnouts for the origin of each lateral at the bank of each main canal will be <br />gated and screened. In addition turnouts for the Cedar Creek and AMH Laterals would be <br />screened, both of which originate from Cedar Creek. Screening prevents the passage of <br />debris that would clog the pipelines as well as preclude the entrance of fish. <br /> <br />Comment 8: "How will return flows be handled'? Will these channels be lined or piped'?" <br />(BLM) <br /> <br />Response 8: Specific measures to manage return flows will need to be addressed by the <br />design team in consultation with landowners. There are two sources of return flows, those <br />created through operation of the system (administrative water), and those created from on- <br />farm irrigation surpluses (tailwater). Reclamation and the UVWUA manage the <br />administrative water. Return flows should be reduced when earthen ditches are placed in <br />pipe and seepage is reduced. Return flows of on-farm tailwater will not be impacted and <br />these flows will continue to be delivered to existing drains. In a few cases where return <br />flows are currently rediverted back into an existing lateral, inlets to the new pipelines may be <br />provided. At this time, there are no plans to line or pipe existing open drainage channels in <br />the project area. <br /> <br />Environmental Commitments <br /> <br />Comment 9: "Construction-related environmental and fish and wildlife commitments should <br />be an integral part of this [construction cooperative] agreement." (FWS) <br /> <br />Response 9: All environmental commitments for the constroction phase of the project will <br />be integrated into construction agreement(s) with project proponents. <br /> <br />Comment 10: "If [habitat] replacement is not concurrent, a formal commitment to delay or <br />slow the lateral piping program until replacement is concurrent needs to be included in fmal <br />EA." (FWS) <br /> <br />Response 10: Reclamation adopted this recommendation. Construction agreements are to <br />specify that work on lateral improvements cannot begin until habitat replacement work has, <br />or can, begin. Delays are not anticipated, but if they occur, appropriate measures will be <br />taken to get replacement activities back on schedule. Reclamation will be responsible for <br />ensuring money is spent as budgeted and scheduled. <br /> <br />33 <br />