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0) .:", "" C'J CHAPTER IV PLAN FORMULATION Recreational opportunities would be created at both project reser- voirs with recreational facilities designed to meet the induced needs. Thornburgh Reservoir would partially inundate the Thornburgh Battle Site, although the present monument is some distance above the projected high waterline. The use of project water as proposed in this alternative could have significant adverse effects. Irrigation development, though restricted to presently cultivated lands, could lead to more intensive farming activity which would tend to discourage deer from using interspersed native habitat. At the same time, irrigation development could lead to deer and elk damage of haystacks and early spring growth of hay crops. The construction of canals and the additional irrigation of lands south of the White River would have adverse impacts. While specific plans are not known for use of the 54,500 acre-feet of water for the coal industry, it would probably support large steam- generating or gasification plants. Impacts of the plants themselves would depend on type, size, and location. Impacts of the actual coal mining would depend on methods employed and the location of mines. The coal industry would have significant effects on the area's wildlife resources as well as present land use, recreation, and social conditions. The area's resources would also be affected by oil-shale develop- ment, which is provided for to some extent in this alternative. Releases from Lake Avery for oil shale use would increase the low flows of the White River below Big Beaver Creek, thereby improving the fishery habitat. Diversions at the Oil Shale Diversion Dam would decrease high flows downstream from that point, but the Lake Avery releases would protect the low flow minimums. Some deer winter range would be ad- versely affected by oil shale activity. Wi th Oil Shale-- Oil Shale and Irrigation Emphasis Alternative This alternative plan was formulated under an assumption that oil shale development would overshadow coal development, or that coal gasifi- cation would not become a reality. The plan provides for the full water supply requested by the Rio Blanco Oil Shale Project, lessees of tract C-a. Municipal and domestic water for the White River Valley would also be provided. The shift away from coal emphasis would make it possible to bring more land under irrigation in the Milk Creek Segment. This in turn would require the construction of a conveyance system for irrigation water. Because of the high cost of the Josephine Basin Canal presented in the coal emphasis alternative, it has been deleted from this plan; 49