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<br />r" <br />.:::', <br /> <br />DescriDtlon and Effects of Alternative Plans <br /> <br />Three approaches to treatment were considered and various alternatives were developed <br />incorporating these various approaches. The approaches included structural measures, purchasing <br />water rights, changing management only, and a combination of management changes and enduring <br />measures. <br /> <br />The following alternatives were considered during this process: <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE 1. FUTURE WITHOUT PROJECT <br /> <br />ComDonents - None- <br /> <br />Effects: <br /> <br />Without irrigation system improvement, deep percolation and runoff will continue at the current <br />unacceptable level. Poor irrigation water application will continue. Irrigation-induced erosion will <br />continue to damage the upper portions of the fields, resulting in topsoil and yield losses. <br />Sedimentation of the lower end of the fields and the carrying of salts, nutrients and trace minerals to <br />the Arkansas River and John Martin Reservoir will continue. <br /> <br />ALTERNATIVE 2. MANAGEMENT MEASURES <br /> <br />1,000 Acres of nutrient management practices, <br />100 Acres of polyacrylarmides application <br />3,500 Acres of Irrigation water management, <br />1,000 Acres of pest management <br />Total Project cost is $99,750. <br /> <br />Effects: <br /> <br />Implementation of management practices will use irrigation water more effectively by reducing deep <br />percolation. Minor reductions of irrigation-induced erosion, sediment movement, and improved water <br />quality of the surface and ground water will also occur; The overall effect is a slight improvement in <br />the water quality of return flows and groundwater within the watershed. Nutrient and selenium State <br />standards will not be met. <br /> <br />In analyzing the beneficial effects to the project area and off-site, it is necessary to make every effort <br />to address the sponsors' concerns. These concerns include protection of the water resource from <br />pollution to meet water quality standards, protection of the soil resource from irrigation-induced <br />erosion and effective irrigation water application. Irrigation water management is an essential <br />component in addressing these concerns. However, the on-farm irrigation water conveyance and <br /> <br />9 <br />