WSP11669

• File Number: 8149.100
• Description: Miscellaneous Small Projects and Project Studies - NRCS-Ft Lyon Canal Co Limestone Graveyard Creeks
• State: CO
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 9/1/1996
• Author: Bent Soil Conservati
• Title: Limestone-Graveyard Creeks Watershed Bent County Colorado Prowers County Colorado Watershed Plan and Environmental Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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RISK AND UNCERTAINTY

There is some uncertainty with regard to the benefits from implementing
the recommended plan. Some of this work will be accomplished with farm
labor. The availability of this type of labor will have an impact on
the cost and extent of certain practice application. The economic
atmosphere surrounding agriculture will have a bearing on how much and
how fast conservation treatment is attained.

Weather patterns also affect project implementation.
of years occurs, more people may see a need to reduce
which may increase conservation practice application.
years also improve IWM interest.

If a wet period
water erosion,
Water short

The accelerated land treatment practices are part of a voluntary
program, so it cannot accurately predict the number or location of land
users that will participate. However, a 30% participation level is
required prior to any expenditure of federal implementation funds.

The non-cost share management practices must be performed even after
NRCS Long Term Contracts with participants expire to ensure the
enduring practices continue to function as planned. Crop rotations,
though not expected, could change and create unexpected conditions.

Implementation using PL 83-566 funds is subject to appropriation of
funds by the United States Congress for the PL 83-566 program.

RATIONALE FOR PLAN SELECTION

Table D presents a comparison of the costs, benefits, and impacts of
the NED recommended plan with the "No Action" plan. The recommended
plan consists of management as well as enduring practices. These
practices will be applied on irrigated cropland. All the resource
concerns are addressed in the plan.

A combination of practices were used for each increment (See Appendix C
for incremental analysis). The first increment included management
practices, and the 2nd increment added irrigation system improvements
that met the test of effectiveness, efficiency, acceptability, and
completeness. To determine benefits versus cost, emphasis was placed
on achieving the greatest net return for planned actions. It was on
this basis that an alternative was selected as the National Economic
Development (NED) plan and the Recommended Plan (RP).

There are no significant long-term negative effects related to the
recommended plan. In the short-term, however, there may be a slight
increase in erosion due to the soil disturbance which will occur during
the implementation of enduring practices.

All the beneficial effects of the recommended plan cannot be expressed
in terms of dollars. Erosion reduction helps improve the resource base

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