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<br />I <br />I <br />" <br />a <br />I' <br />I, <br />I' <br />I, <br />I <br />1\ <br />I <br />I, <br />i <br />I <br />,I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />t <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT <br />TITLE TRANSFER OF SELECTED COLORADO-BIG THOMPSON PROJECT WATER <br />FACILITIES TO TIlE NORTHERN COLORADO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT <br /> <br />facilities and, in some instances, could eliminate the requirement for compliance with <br /> <br /> <br />some federal environmental laws and regulations. In some circumstances, this could <br /> <br />mean potentially less protection for resources and would mean less involvement of <br /> <br /> <br />federal resource agencies in the operation and maintenance of the facilities. <br /> <br />There are no known immediate effects to resources associated with the proposed title <br /> <br /> <br />transfer because any potential effects would be associated with future operations, <br /> <br />maintenance, and repair activities (see Federally Listed Species, Wetlands and Waters of <br /> <br />the US., and Cultural Resource sections for additional discussion). <br /> <br />No Action Alternative <br />Reclamation would retain federal stewardship and oversight responsibilities for the <br />facilities and would need to comply with all federal environmental laws and regulations <br />as it has done historically in instances where discretionary federal action is exercised. <br />Federal resource agencies would be routinely consulted regarding Reclamation's actions. <br />If title to the facilities is not transferred to the District, Reclamation and the District likely <br />would enter into a carriage contract that would allow the District to transport non-C-BT <br />Project water through the facilities in the same manner as would occur with the proposed <br />action, <br /> <br />Water Resources <br /> <br />The facilities proposed for transfer are used for water delivery and are components of <br /> <br />the C-BT system (see Introduction), Diversions for irrigation use have occurred at the <br /> <br /> <br />North Poudre Supply Canal since it was constructed in 1953. Diversions for irrigation <br /> <br />use have occurred during the period of April through October at rates up to 250 cfs. The <br /> <br /> <br />average reduction in baseline flows due to the historical operations of the canal range <br /> <br />from 2 cfs in April and October to 190 cfs in July. The lands irrigated under the North <br /> <br /> <br />Poudre Supply Canal system are located quite a distance from the Poudre River and <br /> <br /> <br />up gradient of several oth~r major irrigation syste~ns that irrigate lands on the north side of <br /> <br />the river. As a consequence, most of the return flows resulting from irrigation use under <br /> <br />14 <br />