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. , Vegetation. More than 4,000 acres of vegetation would be affected by the Eagle-Piney/Eagle-Colorado project. Approximately 2,500 acres of sagebrush and pinyon-juniper communities, which are especially important aa big game winter range, would be permanently affected by the project. The cost of mitigsting damages to big game winter range could range from $100 to $1,000 per scre. Wildlife. The most significant long-term wildlife impacts would be caused by construction of Eagle-Colorado Reservoir on lower Alkali Creek. The reservoir would block a major mule deer migration route that follows south-facing slopes north of Interstate Highway 70. Possible mitigation stepa could include project design modifications. Mitigation costs could rsnge from $500 to $5,000 per acre. Threatened and Endangered Species. Populations of Harrington's penstemon, a candidate threatened or endangered species, could be adversely affected by construction of Eagle-Colorado Reservoir. Appropriate actions to eliminate impacts would be decided following preparation of biological assessment, as required under the Endangered Species Act. The cost of the survey would be approximately $10,000. Visual Resources. Project-related changes to the existing land- scape within the Eagles Nest Wilderness would be incompatible with the Visual Quality Objective of preservstion for this area. Impacts could not be mitigated. Recreation. An estimated 400 acres of Eagles Nest ,111derness would be permanently disturbed as a result of project development. Encroachment into the wilderness would be contrary to Federal policy. The Wilderness Act of 1964 does not allow commercial enterprise or permanent roads within any designated wilderness. This type of impact 27