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CHAPTER III r1 LJ ALTERNATIVES 3. Revegetation of disturbed private lands would be accom- plished if requested by the landowner. Landowners would be provided with three choices--no revegetation; revegeta- tion with a grass-f orb mix; or revegetation and replanting with species of grass, shrubs, or trees particularly bene- ficial to wildlife. 4. Semipermanent and permanent earth-lined ponds would be de- veloped within four detention basins to provide water for wildlife. 5. Sma11 earth-lined watering ponds or guzzlers would be es- tablished at approximately S- to 8~mile intervals in the area north of the Government Highline Canal. These areas would be partially fenced to control livestock use around the ponds. A decision on the location of these ponds would be made in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management, the Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Fish and Wild- life Service. The ponds would be developed into good qual- ity wildlife habitat, would help offset habitat losses due to unit development, and would add value to surrounding areas. • Some of the river bottom lands being considered for acquisition have potential for commercial gravel operations. The Fish and Wildlife Serv- ice has agreed that developing gravel resources might occur on portions of these lands concurrent with activities performed for the wildlife habitat development program. Details of this program would be negotiated with affected landowners, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Fish and Wild- life Service, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. All plans would conform to requirements stipulated by the Colorado State Department of Natural Resources, Mined Land Reclamation Division. Figure 1 shows po- tential wildlife areas. Construction facilities The Grand Valley field station, constructed in 1980 as part of Stage One development, would be used as construction headquarters for Stage Two. It is located centrally in relation to the irrigation systems in the valley near the midpoint of the middle portion of the Government Highline Canal. Geology and construction materials Geology Much of the proposed canal and lateral lining construction would occur in Mancos Shale, which is hard and dense at depth but near the surface is often fractured and jointed or weathered into a lean clay or silty soil. All excavations required during construction along the canal and laterals, whether in soil or bedrock, would be done with common ex- cavation methods and would not necessitate blasting. 28