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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />V. NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS <br />OF DIVERSIONS PURSUANT TO THE PERMIT <br /> <br />A Legal Standard <br /> <br />Subsequent to permit issuance in 1978, significant scientific and biological <br />data has been developed pertinent to the impacts of low flows on Snowmass Creek <br />resources. That data shows that dewatering the Creek to the 4 cfs level will have a <br />devastating impact on the resources of the Creek. The ~ 404 guidelines in 40 c.F.R. <br />Part 230 prohibit significant enviro1lll1ental degradation resulting from the permitted <br />activity. 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.10 and .12. The Guidelines require the Corps to considernot <br />just the direct effects of the discharge, but also secondary effects. Id., at ~ 230.11(h). <br /> <br />The Corps has used a habitat reduction threshold of 25% to denote a <br />significant adverse impact requiring protective bypass flow conditions on a ~ 404 <br />permit. See e.g., A. Champ letter of Nov. 30, 1994, to D. Neslin (Ex. U); see also <br />Snowmass Ski Area FEIS, Vol. 2 at 71 (1994). As shown below, dewatering the Creek <br />to 4 cfs far exceeds the 25% threshold. <br /> <br />The Guidelines list the following as potentially significant adverse effects. All <br />of these effects are caused by depleting flows to the so-called "survival flow" level on <br />Snowmass Creek. <br /> <br />effects "on life stages of aquatic life." 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.10(c)(2). <br />"loss of fish and wildlife habitat." 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.10( c)(3). <br /> <br />effects "on [water] circulation including downstream flows and normal water <br />fluctuation, .. the potential diversion or obstro.ction of flow, .. or other <br />significant changes in the hydrologic regime." 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.11(b). <br /> <br />effects "on the stnlcture and function of the aquatic ecosystem and <br />organisms." 40 c.F.R. ~ 230.11(e). <br /> <br />"interletfence] with the reproductive success of recreational and commercially <br />important aquatic species through disruption of migration and spawning <br />areas." 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.51(b). <br /> <br />Where the proposed activity will result in "significant degradation of the <br />aquatic ecosystem," the COlpS cannot issue a permit for the discharge of dredged <br />and fill materials. 40 C.F.R. ~ 230.U(a)(3)(ii). The Guidelines suggest that the Corps <br /> <br />13 <br />