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<br />219; <br /> <br />( <br /> <br />TASK 4 . DescriPtion and Evaluation of Alternatives <br /> <br />The Evaluation Process. Alternatives to total dry.up of the Ft. Lyon service area are <br />identified in the following sections. Alternatives will be structured and quantified using <br />mass balance of the Ft. Lyon water resources and input-output economic analysis described <br />in Task 3B. Alternatives will be evaluated using a matrix methodology. The matrix <br />variables include: <br /> <br />the quantities of waters in acre-feet <br />the use(s) of such waters <br />the relevant impacts within the social, economic and environmental <br />categories (described in Task 3B and below) <br />suggested mitigation measures for adverse impacts <br />benefits and costs <br />conclusions as to financial, legal and technical (engineering) feasibility. <br /> <br />Research data exists on large-scale transfers of water. Published and unpublished data is <br />available on impacts of transfers of water out of the Rocky Ford Ditch and the Colorado <br />Canal, just upstream of the Ft. Lyon system. Additionally, water transfers in Arizona and <br />other western states have been studied and documented. These data will be reviewed and <br />presented in summary form. This will provide comparison information to the results <br />obtained in the Ft. Lyon case. <br /> <br />Methodology to Establish Baseline for Measuring rmpacts. An environmental, economic, <br />and social baseline of the impact area will be developed from a combination of primary and <br />secondary research sources. Economic trends and current data on economic activity will <br />be gathered from various state, county, local, and federal agencies. This will include <br />agricultural production, wholesale and retail trade by sector, governmental finance <br />(subdivided by county, towns and cities, school districts and other special districts), <br />employment by sector, amount of transfer payments into/from the impact area, real estate <br />values, and sales, propeny, income and excise tax collections. An economic multiplier will <br />be determined for the impact area. Existing Conditions will be taken from Task 3B. This <br />baseline will illustrate the existing condition of the impact area, and will be used to define <br />the changes occurring from each of the alternatives. As a "worst case",~ the no action <br />alternative shall be conditions which result from total or major removal of Ft. Lyon water <br />from the valley. <br /> <br />Methodology to Measure Economic/Social rmpacts of Alternative Actions. For each of the <br />alternatives described later in this section, various data will be gathered as a basis for <br />measuring its economic and social impact. These will include such data as are appropriate <br />to the alternative, for example: <br /> <br />. The acreage of agricultural land removed from (or added to) production, by county <br /> <br />8 <br />