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1 Colonel Steven G. West Two Forks 1 1 L? 2 The major adverse impact of the Two Forks project on aquatic resources is the inundation loss of 32.1 miles of the South Platte River and North Fork of the South Platte River. This inundation loss includes all but 1.1 miles of the Cheesman to Scraggy View reach of the South Platte River which has been designated as Resource Category 1 by the Service. Measured in terms of biomass, the net loss of trout stream habitat would be 36,500 pounds. Major terrestrial wildlife impacts are the loss of 9,315 acres of mule deer winter range, 477 acres of elk winter range, 25 acres of lambing, 39 acres of migration corridor, 154 acres of overall range, 403 acres of historic range for bighorn sheep, 865 acres of turkey habitat, and 298.5 acres of wetlands. Impacts on the Platte River in Nebraska were determined to be insignificant for nonlisted species from Two Forks; however, cumulative impacts from the many projects being planned (Narrows, Prairie Bend, Senac, Corn Creek, Deer Creek, Seminoe Enlargement, Cache La Poudre, Frenchman Creek, Catherland, and Enders) would be very significant with streamflow losses in Nebraska of 21-28 percent or more. We have worked closely with the Division, Commission, Forest Service, Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Water Department to determine appropriate mitigation measures to offset the adverse impacts of Two Forks, should Federal permits be issued for the project. The major mitigation elements described in this report and recommended for inclusion in any Federal permits authorizing project development are as follows: 1. A Mitigation Team be established with a Core Team comprised of the Forest ' Service, Corps, Service, Environmental Protection Agency, Division, and Water Department, and an Implementation Team comprised of the Water Department and the Division. ' 2. Aquatic mitigation recommendations include: a. Improving trout stream habitat through flow and watershed management on the South Platte, Blue, Williams Fork, and Fraser Rivers. Mitigation on these streams is expected to result in biomass gains of 25,000-31,500 pounds or 68-86 percent of the biomass lost. The Division has requested ' a guarantee of instream biomass gains to equal or exceed 90 percent of the net losses from Two Forks. b. Establishment of a trust fund agreement between the Water Department and the Division to transfer 10 million dollars from the Water Department to the Division. This trust fund would be used for stream watershed improvements and stocking of Two Forks. 1