Laserfiche WebLink
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT <br /> Tamarack Managed Groundwater Recharge Project <br /> Colorado Division of Wildlife <br /> Federal Aid Project W-43 L "South Platte(Tamarack) State Wildlife Area" <br /> and W-169-L "Pony Express State Wildlife Area" <br /> The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has prepared this document in accordance with the <br /> procedures for compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act as it applies to the <br /> Federal Aid In Fish and Wildlife Restoration Acts(64 Stat. 430; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 777 et. seq. and <br /> 50 State 916; 16 U.S.C. Sec. 669 et. seq.). <br /> An environmental assessment(EA)has been prepared on the "Tamarack Managed Groundwater <br /> Recharge Project,"an action proposed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife on property acquired <br /> with Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration funds at the Tamarack State Wildlife Area(SWA) in <br /> Logan County and the Pony Express SWA in Sedgwick County. The purpose of the proposed <br /> action is to: (1)broaden management and use of the SWAs in a manner that benefits native fish <br /> and diversifies wildlife species; (2)create and enhance wetland habitats on both SWAs; and(3) <br /> improve water flows to contribute to Colorado's Tamarack Plan (Appendix A of the EA)of the <br /> Cooperative Agreement for Platte River Research and Other Efforts Relating to Endangered <br /> Species Habitat along the Central Platte River,Nebraska(Cooperative Agreement), and <br /> subsequently become part of the Proposed Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. The <br /> "no action" alternative was also evaluated but dismissed for failing to satisfy the purposes <br /> described above. <br /> The proposed action consists of installing up to 35 wells and pumps and 13 miles of pipeline and <br /> developing 42 small recharge ponds. Wells located near the South Platte will pump an average <br /> annual amount of 30,000 acre-feet of water from the alluvial aquifer to fill the ponds during <br /> periods of excess river flows. <br /> The water will return to the South Platte River at times when it will benefit fish and wildlife and <br /> their habitats or for other purposes as provided for in Colorado's Tamarack Plan. A minor <br /> amount will be lost due to evaporation from the ponds. <br /> The proposed work is expected to result in an elevation of water tables in riparian meadows, <br /> increase groundwater return flows to sloughs and river channels at the SWAs, and create more <br /> open water surface area and wetland habitat associated with development of the recharge ponds. <br /> These hydrologic changes should enhance and maintain existing riparian and wetland habitats, <br /> thereby benefitting waterfowl and fish species. <br /> Temporary berming will be placed within the 100-year floodplain at the well construction sites <br /> but should not result in permanent adverse effects. Except for the footprint of the wellpads <br /> 1 <br />