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<br />I <br /> <br />4. ALTERNATIVES <br /> <br />No Action <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The No Action Alternative is the expected future condition in the absence <br />of the proposed project, and is the basis of comparison for determining <br />effects of the project. <br /> <br />without Federal assistance, the development of water resources in the pro- <br /> <br />ject area would probably not occur. This is primarily due to a lack of <br /> <br />financial capability both at the local and State levels. Without project <br /> <br /> <br />development, the area would remain predominantly dryland farming. With a' <br /> <br /> <br />dry1and farming economy; the area would continue to experience wide fluc- <br /> <br /> <br />tuations in crop production. The a1re4dy low personal income is projected <br /> <br /> <br />to decline between 1980 and 2010. Unemployment among the Yankton Sioux <br /> <br /> <br />Tribe would remain at its present high levels. Outmigration, which has <br /> <br /> <br />occurred since 1950, would continue be~ause no other industrial development <br /> <br /> <br />is expected. The population of Charles Mix County is projected to decrease <br /> <br />from 9,680 (1980) to 9,276 by 2010. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />From the standpoint of environmental q~a1ity, future conditions without the <br /> <br />project are expected to remain essentil1lly as they are now and have been in <br /> <br /> <br />recent years. This means that during years of low precipitation, <br /> <br />Lake Andes (except the Owens Bay Unit) would remain at low water levels and <br /> <br /> <br />provide limited recreation. During a aeries of good water years, Lake Andes <br /> <br /> <br />would provide hunting and fishing. Other wildlife areas such as Red Lake <br /> <br /> <br />would remain unchanged. The overall q~a1~ty and quantity of woodlands and <br /> <br /> <br />grasslands are expected to remain essenti~lly the same for the foreseeable <br /> <br /> <br />future. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The future operation of Lake Francis Case was based on a change being pro- <br />posed by the Corps of Engineers. Lake Francis Case is operated by the <br />Corps. In a normal year, Lake Francis Case begins each spring flood season <br />near elevation 1350, the base of the annu~l flood control pool. The pool <br />is filled to near elevation 1355 during the spring IDonths as the threat of <br />flood inflow is reduced. Lake Francis Case is then maintained near <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />16 <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />