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<br />Select a Population Center as Being Representative of Full Range of Impacts <br /> <br />The Florida Mesa to Bayfield Corridor is recommended as the growth area as being <br />representative of a full range of environmental issues. The area has tracts of lands which are <br />presently being developed as high density residential areas, tracts of lands of larger acreage such <br />as 5 to 10 acres, and significant open spaces. Wetlands exist in this corridor in a greater <br />abundance than the other areas. In addition wildlife habitat is available for larger animals such as <br />deer. It is most likely that this scenario could be considered as a "worst case scenario" in terms of <br />impacts to wetlands and wildlife. <br /> <br />Determine Corridors for Main M&l Pipelines for Impact Analysis <br /> <br />The corridors for the Main M&I Pipelines would coincide with corridors for other tribal uses of <br />water which have been delineated on maps and provided to the various resource specialists for <br />impact analysis. The pipelines on these maps would be sized to carry M&I water in addition to <br />the presently contemplated industrial water to locations in New Mexico. In order to serve the <br />Farmington, New Mexico Area, one option would be to convey this water from Ridges Basin to <br />the LaPlata River for transport to the Farmington, New Mexico area. This additional water would <br />enhance the stream fishery in the LaPlata River. A second option would be to release water to the <br />Animas River which would then flow by gravity to the Farmington area. <br /> <br />Develop Representative Area Template for Distribution Lines for Expansion of <br />Cities/Communities for Impact Analysis <br /> <br />At the present time it is not possible to determine in precise terms the impacts that will occur due <br />to the distribution of M&I water within the different population centers. A similar situation was <br />encountered on the Central Utah Project in Utah. For the Central Utah Project a representative <br />area approach was used to project anticipated impacts from the delivery of M&I water to cities <br />and communities within the service area. (see Attachment on Representative Area Template from <br />the Draft Wildlife Resources Technical Report, Spanish Fork Canyon - Nephi Irrigation System <br />Draft Environmental Impact Statement dated March 1998). The representative area approach on <br />the Central Utah Project was developed by participating federal and state agencies involved in the <br />preparation and review of that EIS. <br /> <br />It is recommended that a similar approach be used on the Animas-LaPlata Project to determine <br />the impacts associated with a Regional M&l Water Supply. <br /> <br />The following steps would be undertaken: <br /> <br />Step I - <br /> <br />Organize a team from USBR, Consultant, Tribal interests, and state and federal <br />environmental and regulatory agencies. <br /> <br />Step 2 . <br /> <br />From a field review, determine a representative area (i.e. 40 acre tract or larger) <br />within the Florida Bftsffi to Bayfield Corridor. <br />Me 50.. <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />Draft - Jim Riley <br />Saturday. June 05,1999 <br />