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~..,. , "3 /j;J:;(~:'; Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: Management Prescription #1,2,3, and 4 (Boundary Adjustment, Identifying Land Use Priorities, NSO for Oil and Gas Leasing, Land/Mineral Withdrawal): These proposed Management Prescriptions would have no impact on the generation or disposal of hazardous wastes. W A:rER QU ALITY, SURF ACE OR GROUND (Colorado Standards for Public und Heal':h. Standard #5) Affected Environment: The Proposed SRMA includes public segments of the Upper Colorado River that are considered to be manageable segments. These segments, according to the RMP, would be protected to maintain minimum state water quality standards. The 1998 Unified Watershed Assessment for the state of Colorado, ranked the Upper Colorado River basin as a Category 2 watershed, which is a watershed meeting water quality goals. Generally water quality is considered good in the area, and the USGS gage located at the mouth of Gore Canyon is meeting state water quality standards. The 303(d) Monitoring and Evaluation List, however, does include all tributaries to the Colorado River above State Bridge as needing additional data collection to determine if there is excessive sediment loading oc~uning. At this time, specific tributaries or segments have not been identified, nor a level of impairment determined. The BLM has collected water quality samples on Reeder Creek, Sulphur Gulch, Muddy Creek and some tributaries. Water quality appears to mostly reflect geologic conditions although continued measures to reduce nonpoint source pollution and implement best management practices are critical. Environmental Consequences of Proposed Action: Management Prescription # 1 (Boundary Adjustment): Expanding the SRMA boundary does not directly impact water quality or the area's ability to meet standard #5. The SR.\1A designation implies the BLM would intensively manage for recreation within the area, which could help mitigate existing recreation uses by providing sanitation, closing user-created trails, and developing recreation sites with best management practices. Recreation uses do expand beyond developed areas. however, and increased dispersed use can impact water quality. Management Prescription #2 (Identifying Land Use Priorities): The proposed action would identify the majority of the SRMA as a recreation priority. The proposed action would additionally establish or retain a water, soil, wildlife, protected, or no priority for some lands within the SRMA. The segments of the Colorado River within the SRMA either retain or are. identified as a water priority. The RMP states that recreation priority land uses are compatible with water resources, and that water quality would be protected through limits or restrictions placed on specific recreational locations or proposals. The existing land uses, as well as the proposed Jand use priorities are compatible with water quality. Neither set of land use priorities affects the area's ability to meet standard #5. Management Prescription #3 and #4(NSO for Oil and Gas Leasing, LandlMineral Withdrawal ): By placing the proposed NSO stipulation on oil and gas development and withdrawing the extended SRMA from mining, future possible impacts could be avoided. The area would continue to have the ability to meet standard #5. 18