WSPC03460

• File Number: 8272
• Description: Colorado River - Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program - CRBSCP
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/1/1998
• Author: DOI-BOR
• Title: Trans-Colorado Gas Transmission Project - Colorado-New Mexico - Supplement to Final EIS
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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route and corresponding proposed Route Changes. Maps of the ROD route and corresponding proposed
Route Changes with identified wetlands are provided in Appendix B.

Approximately 1,250 feet (2.2 acres) of palustrine emergent wetlands would be crossed by the ROD route
that correspond with proposed Route Realignments. Approximately 370 feet (0.6 acre) of palustrine
emergent wetlands would be crossed by the proposed Route Realignments.

TUAs would generaliy not be located wtthin wetland/riparian areas. The Proposed Action would involve
locating TUAs wtthin wetland/riparian zones at the large river crossings. These wetland/riparian zones
include vegetation dominated by cottonwoods, willows, and tamarisk. The approximate area of
wetland/riparian zone affected for each river crossing includes 2.8 acres at the Colorado River, 4.4 acres
at the Gunnison River, 0.1 acre at the San Miguel River, and 1.5 acres at the Dolores River.

WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY

This section is limtted to a discussion of the Palisade and Grand Junction municipal water supplies and
systems, and other related land uses on the west side of Grand Mesa. Water qualtty classifications, and
stream and river crossings were previously described in the FEIS (page 163). The water quality
classifications identified for streams and rivers in the FEIS (Table C-l) have not changed since publication
of the FEIS.

MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIES

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The FEIS (pages 163 through 165) discussed the location of the Palisade and Grand Junction watersheds,
ground and surface water sources, and water supply systems. Based on discussions wtth municipal
representatives, no new water coliection or distribution systems would be crossed by the proposed
TransColorado pipeline route.

A hydrological assessment of the Palisade watershed area was conducted by HLA (HLA 1997a) on behalf
of the Town of Palisade in 1997. Three main areas of potential concern related to municipal water supplies
and water qualtty were identified along the ROD route. These areas included Rapid Creek, Cottonwood
Creek, and the Kruzen Springs Resource Area. Hydrological issues of concern identified in the report
associated with Rapid Creek included the presence of a wetlands stte, several local water supply structures
that may be damaged during pipeline construction and slope excavation, and proximtty of the alignment to
existing smali drainages and creek tributaries channelized water.

Hydrological issues identified for the Cottonwood Creek crossing included the presence of water utility
structures currently owned and used by the communtty of Palisade (including pipelines and intakes);
potential impacts to Cottonwood Creek water quality, reported to be pristine with no suspended solids or
precipttates; and potential negative ecological and visual impacts.

Several hydrological issues of concern were raised in the HLA report regarding the Kruzen Springs Resource
Area, Including potential negative impacts associated with landslides and pipeline construction to water flow

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