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<br />Turquoise lake Enlargement <br /> <br />The Turquoise Lake Enlargement would raise the maximum pool elevation 5 feet or I I feet, <br />providing an additional 10,000 acre feet or 20,000 acre feet of water storage. In addition to <br />modifications in the area of the Sugarloaf Dam, reservoir enlargement will also require the <br />relocation of recreational facilities (campgrounds, picnic areas, boat ramps and associated roads <br />and parking lots), utilities (overhead power, telephone, and cable, and buried gas, sewer and <br />water lines), and a trail. An area of approximately 1,930 acres was included in the Turquoise <br />,i 1 471; Lake study area. <br /> <br />Seven cultural resources projects have been conducted within the Turquoise Lake study area and <br />a total of 23 acres are known to have been inventoried. In addition, a survey of an unknown area <br />was conducted in the early 1960s, when all nine prehistoric sites in the area were recorded. <br /> <br />A total of twelve sites are recorded within the Turquoise Lake study area. Nine prehistoric sites <br />located in the area were minimally recorded during the 1960s. Three historic sites, including the <br />minimally recorded Colorado Midland Railroad and two adequately recorded charcoal features, <br />also exist within the alternative boundaries. <br /> <br />No sites within the Turquoise Lake study area have been officially evaluated for National <br />Register eligibility. A number of inventories have been conducted in the vicinity of Turquoise <br />Lake. Sites recorded include many ages and types of prehistoric sites as well as large numbers <br />of mining and related historic sites. These inventories suggest prehistoric sites may exist along <br />the creek and its terraces and that historic sites, including cabins, ditches, charcoal pits, mines <br />and prospects, and railroads may exist throughout the alternative area. <br /> <br />Since little inventory has occurred in the impact area and there is a good likelihood that historic <br />or prehistoric sites will exist in this area, the Turquoise Lake Enlargement is assigned a rank of <br />2. Should this alternative be selected as a water storage facility for Colorado Springs Utilities, <br />the entire above water direct impact area including those areas to be affected by relocated <br />facilities and a buffer zone for indirect impacts will require inventory, site recording and <br />evaluation, including testing if needed, and mitigation of significant cultural resources. It is likely <br />that a number of mining related sites will be recorded. These will require archival research to <br />evaluate historical significance in addition to evaluation of each of the sites as standing <br />architectural sites or as historical archaeological sites. Some prehistoric sites, particularly if <br />found on stream terraces, may contain intact cultural deposits. If found, these will likely require <br />testing to determine the depth, extent and integrity of the subsurface cultural remains. <br /> <br />Lake Meredith Enlargement <br /> <br />Several options exist for the Lake Meredith Enlargement. Present plans involve raising the <br />normal pool elevation 2,4,6,8, or II feet. This would increase the surface area of the lake form <br />the present 5,742 acres to a maximum 8.992 acres. An area of approximately 9460 acres was <br />included in the Lake Meredith study area. Reservoir enlargement will involve construction of <br />embankments ranging from 14,500 feet to 21,000 feet in length. The original outlet canal cut <br />through a natural ridge line and has eroded so that 25 to 30 feet vertical sidewalls are present. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />Cultural Issues <br />