WSPC112 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

0017 ~}4 Revised Supplemental Draft Environmental Assessment-Chapter 3-Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences Impacts No Action: The No Action alternative assumes the Jacobson Hydro No.1 Project would not be built as described in the terminated FERC license and would have no effect . on floodplain or wetland resources. However, ifthe hydropower project were built, mitigation measures required to reduce wetland impacts from its construction would be identified as part of the licensee's 404 permit. Conventional Fish Ladder: A mature cottonwood tree at the site would be lost. Due to the limited space, routing a fish ladder around the cottonwood tree is not possible. Revegetation of the site would mitigate for temporary losses of other vegetation. Section 404 permits would be required to discharge fill material for a temporary construction cofferdam and the fish passage entrance and exits in the river. Reclamation would request authorization under Regional General Permit No. 57, Projects beneficial to endangered fish. Permit conditions would be implemented as environmental commitments. Downstream Rock Fish Passage: Section 404 permits would be required to place boulders, riprap and fill material into the Colorado River to create the downstream fish passage. Construction contracts would require protection of downstream water quality, revegetation of disturbed areas would rapidly mitigate losses of vegetation. Downstream Rock Fish Passage with Whitewater Recreation Features: This alternative is similar to the Downstream Rock Fish Passage alternative, however additional 404 permits would be needed to incorporate the whitewater features. Reclamation would request authorization for the fish passage under Regional General Peimit No. 57, projects beneficial to endangered fish. In initial discussion with the Army Corps of Engineers, additional permits may be needed to construct the white water features. In addition, separate 404 permits may be needed for maintenance of the whitewater features. Recreational interests or possibly the Town of Palisade (if they assume management responsibility of the whitewater features) would need to contact the Army Corps of Engineers prior to condl.\Cting some maintenance activities to determine if a 404 permit is required. Reclamation would request Section 404 authorization for maintenance of the fish passage as needed, however this is predicted to be infrequent. Recreational boaters who use established put-in and take-out sites (i.e. Colorado River State Park-Island Acres, if developed) would have minimal impact on riparian areas. Points of unauthorized access may result in minor loss of some riparian vegetation (i.e. trampled willows) and establislunent of primitive foot trails leading to the river as a result ofthe trespass. This type of damage is predicted to be minimal but could be further diminished using appropriate barriers and "No Trespassing" signs if problem areas develop. Unauthorized access and riparian vegetation impacts could be further reduced if CDOT and E.R. Jacobson were to grant public access to the whitewater features through their properties downstream of the dam. This would allow for the development of defined put- 45