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V. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br />SOILS <br />Construction of the project should have very little if any long -term effects upon soil <br />conditions. A large portion of the project area is already under cultivation by the CDOW <br />on the TRSWA. Aside from temporary soil compaction there will be no impacts in those <br />farmed areas. Excavating pipeline trenches through upland sites will temporarily <br />and compact the soil. To lessen the potential erosion problems, disturban a to native <br />vegetation will be kept at a minimum. Re- seeding with appropriate grass mixtures will a <br />hasten the site recovery. Water erosion should not be a problem given the high also <br />and absorbsion rates for these sandy soils. Pond sites could potentially become blowouts ol <br />and should be managed to maintain some type of vegetative cover. <br />There are no Prime or Unique Farmlands on the TRSWA or the PESWA. A co <br />NRCS clearance for prime and unique farmlands is included in Appendix A py of the <br />HYDROLOGY <br />The CDOW /C'WCB /SPLRG Cooperative Project will elevate water tables in riparian <br />meadows, will increase groundwater return flows to the sloughs and river channels at <br />SWAS's, and will generate open water surfaces at the recharge ponds. In turn these <br />the <br />hydrological changes will serve to maintain and enhance existing riparian and wetl <br />habitats at the SWAS's in a manner that will benefit waterfowl and fish species o f c c and <br />and will contribute to creation of needed wetland and wet meadow complexes. oncern, <br />Appendix A (Tab 3A of the Cooperative Agreement) describes the operational details <br />the hydrologic analysis for Colorado's Tamarack Plan of managed groundwater ls and <br />to which the CDOW /C'WCB /SPLRG Cooperative Project will contribute. Groundwater <br />charge, <br />wells located next to the river at the SWAs will pump during periods of excess river <br />These periods are defined as periods when flows exceed endangered species targ t flows <br />e flows. <br />established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in central Nebraska and when Sout <br />Platte Compact requirements are satisfied. When the Tamarack Plan is implemented and <br />leme h <br />operated as described in Appendix A, Colorado is credited with contributing to the <br />reduction of water flow shortages in central Nebraska because these Tamarack Plan <br />Operations are estimated to increase flows in the South Platte River at the Colorado - <br />Nebraska state line during the April through September time period by an average of <br />approximately 10,000 acre -feet each year over the flows that would otherwise occur du <br />that period. In addition, wells at the SWAs will also pump to re- regulate or recycle rmg <br />that historically were not available, such as return flows from additional trans-basin <br />I <br />ycle flows <br />diversions or pumping of aquifers to meet future population growth South Platte Basin. g in the <br />12 <br />