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SUMMARY (Continued) <br />• change only slightly. The land use on the south side of the canal would <br />probably continue to become more suburban and developed, although little <br />change would be anticipated north of the canal. More of the farm ditches <br />would probably be concrete lined, and vegetation supported by seepage <br />would be reduced. <br />The membrane lining of the canal under alternative A or B would <br />probably result in only a short-term esthetic impact during construction. <br />After the lining is completed, canal vegetation would partially return. <br />The more gentle side slopes of the lined canal may seem more attractive <br />than the existing canal; however, esthetic values of the wetlands along <br />canals and laterals would be reduced. Trees in these areas would be <br />lost, and the existing vegetation would be replaced naturally by more <br />xeric species such as saltbush. Losses of cottonwood trees along lat- <br />erals would be significant esthetically; the Fish and Wildlife Service <br />(1984) estimates that 75 percent of the cottonwoods along laterals would <br />be eliminated. <br />On the north side of the canal, the detention dike and ditch system <br />would add a new element to the landscape. The dike section where Inter- <br />state Highway 70 crosses the canal to about 2 miles west of Grand Junc- <br />tion is of special concern because of the privately developed land in <br />this area. Additional revegetation compatible with these surroundings <br />• would be included here. <br />The construction material sites and their access roads would tempo- <br />rarily affect an estimated 680 acres of desert shrublands. When the <br />sites are closed, the topsoil in these areas, which initially would be <br />stockpiled, would be respread to aid revegetation. The sites would be <br />reshaped so they would conform to the appearance of adjacent, undisturbed <br />areas, and then they would be reseeded. <br />Lateral construction under both alternatives would temporarily af- <br />fect approximately 1,200 acres of mainly privately owned land; however, <br />there would be a net vegetation loss along laterals, and the visual <br />quality of the area would be reduced. <br />Cultural resources <br />Under the no-action alternative, routine maintenance and repairs <br />would continue on sites that are irrigation system features. Impacts <br />to historic and prehistoric sites that are under the jurisdiction or con- <br />trol of private interest and/or other government agencies are unknown. <br />At the minimum, these impacts would consist of natural deterioration, <br />normal wear and tear, and repair and maintenance. <br />By developing alternative A or B, the sites located near canal and/ <br />or lateral rights-of-way would be avoided and preserved in their present <br />condition. 'The Government Highline Canal is the only site that would be <br />directly affected by construction activities and is also eligible for <br />nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. Construction <br />and other activities associated with the alternatives would not alter <br />S-9 <br />