WSP00412

• File Number: 8270.100
• Description: Colorado River Basin Water Quality/Salinity -- Misc Water Quality
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 4/1/1982
• Author: USDA
• Title: Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program - Final Environmental Impact Statement for Lower Gunnison Basin Unit - Montrose and Delta Counties CO and Uintah Basin Unit
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

I

I

to:)
....
1\j
....

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

I

3,

Provide increased technical assistance by SCS through the Della and Shavano
Soil Coservation Districts and by ASeS county offices to service the
expected decelerated workload.

4,

Develop a conservation plan that includes an environmental evaluation for
each farm containing conservation practices consistent with priorities by
watershed area and reflecting the owner's decisions for making improvements
to meet objectives of the salinity control program.

5,

Obtain a long-term commitment from farm operators to begin an improvement
program based on individual conservation plans and to accelerate that
program consistent with established priorities for early completion of
needed improvements.

6,

Continue the program for irrigation research to determine applicability
and limitations of various irrigation methods under local conditions of
soil. climate, crops and economics.

7,

Initiate a program to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of onfanm
improvements to verify that objectives of the salinity control program
have been achieved.

Nondiscrimination

The salinity control program ~ill be implemented in compliance with
all requirements respecting nondiscrimination as contained in the Civil Rights
Law of 1964, as amended, and the regulations of ~he Secretary of Agriculture
(eFR 15.1-15.12), which provide that no person in tne United Stales shall, on
the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, physical or
mental handicap be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of,
or be other\o'ise subjected to discrimination under any activity receiving federal
financial assistance.

Mitigation

Each alternative plan (Table Al-4) for the Lo\o'er Gunnison Basin Unit
has a display of tbe potential \o'etland loss. This is sho.....n in acres and in
Habitat Value Units. The significance of the .....etland impacts are given in
perspective by showing: (1) the wetlands avoided in each alternative; (2) the
.....etlands that could be upgraded (rehabilitated); and (3) additional wetlands
needed (replacement). In addition, the .....etland loss in each alternative is
evaluated to display the replacement cost (at S2,OOOjacre) to upgrade (rehabili-
tate) .....etlands by increasing the habitat value of other.....ise undisturbed .....etlands
elseh.....ere in the valley. In most instances proper control of grazing by domestic
livestock .....ill alIa..... natural rebound of native vegetation. In some areas
reseeding of native species may be needed. The revitalized vegetation could
adequately minimize the adverse effects on habitat values lost due to program
implementation.

It is anticipated that the most likely scenario for mitigation is a voluntary
commitment on individual or contiguous farms. This commitment could result in
an acreage .....ith habit unit value which is less than the full level of mitigation
by avoiding areas, upgrading (rehabilitation), or replacement. It is estimated
that 100 acres of .....etlands obtained through voluntary mitigation .....ill partially
replace lost .....etlands in the recommended plan. In addition the recommended

1\'-23