WSP11355 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

, , The original roa~~1ystem as described in the Dol~Z)s Project Final Environmental Statement (FES 77-12) consisted of a road on the mesa west of McPhee Reservoir. The road would cross the dam and traverse the northern shore of the reservoir connecting with the Dry Creek Canyon Road. Detailed geologic testing revealed that the road alignment would intersect with the Morrison formation. Characteristically, this formation is highly unstable and is subject to frequent slides. The alternative of No Action - not improving the six roads - was considered but eliminated because of the following impacts: 1. Access to the National Forest from the town of Dolores would be partially cut off. 2. Access to the dam and recreation facilities via the Lone Dome Road would be limited. McPhee Dam and Reservoir will inundate a vital National Forest and County transportation system route causing increased traffic and use on other system roads that are inadequate and unsafe for this use. III. AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES A. Air Quality Both Montezuma and Dolores Counties are rural with few industries to degrade air quality standards. Wood waste-disposal burners and open-burning disposal areas are presently the major sources of suspended particulates, but the Colorado Department of Health predicts air quality in this area will continue to meet Federal standards. Short term impacts to the air quality will occur during the con- struction period. Dust raised from road grading equipment will impact visual clarity during the construction period. B. Water Quality The quality of water immediately below the town of Dolores is well within U.S. Public Health Service and Colorado State drinking water standards. Analysis by Reclamation indicates total dissolved solids (TDS) varying from 79-352 milligrams per liter (mg/L) depending on time of year and averaging 127 mg/L. The Colorado Department of Health has noted the presence of heavy metals such as iron, zinc, mercury, and toxic substances such as arsenic and selenium. None of these elements, however, exceed the recommended limits for domestic water. Some minor siltation of the Dolores River would occur during the work along the Lone Dome Road. This siltation would occur during the curve straightening and bank stabilization activities and would be a temporary impact. C. Vegetation Vegetation in the project area includes pinyon-juniper communities, ponderosa pine, aspen, mountain shrub, and grasslands. Range improvement practices have replaced native communities with exotic grass species. For a complete description of the vegetation resources in the project area, see the Dolores Project Final Environmental Statement (77-12). 5