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SUMMARY Parameters such as recrestion, air quality, and streamflow will not be significantly affected. No significant impacts to wildlife are antici- pated from the project, although deer will benefit and the winter resting places for waterfowl will be reduced along canal systems, Present deer losses will be diminished by eliminating winter stock water deliveries through the canals, which trap the animals because of combined wster, ice, and steep sides that make escape difficult. Populations of such furbearers as beaver and muskrat might be reduced with diminished winter return flows in washes and creeks but could be benefited by additional water in the Uncompahgre River. The Fish and Wildlife Service has evalu- ated the Lower Gunnison Basin Unit and concluded that the continued ex- istence of any threatened or endsngered species will not be jeopardized. Although wetland vegetation is dormant in the winter, elimination of winter water could have sn impact on wetlands by lowering the water tables. Therefore, recharge in the spring could take longer than under existing conditions. However, that impact has not been quantified. A cooperative agreement containing standard environmental protection measures will be executed among Reclamation and each of the water supply entities for extending existing domestic waterlines. Another contract between Reclamation and the UVWUA for on-farm construction will contain standard environmental protection measures applicable to all federally funded construction activities, including water and air quality, esthetic considerations, vegetation protection, and noise and dust control. A Class I cultural resources survey has been completed. Class III surveys will be required for on-farm and non-farm sections of the water delivery systems, and will be completed well before construction begins. Surveys will not be necessary where modern humsn activities, such as paved or bermed roads and previous construction, have already seriously dis- turbed the ground. Once Class III surveys are completed, Reclamation will consult with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Officer and the Federal Advisory Council on Historic Preservation as required in 36 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. This consultation will be done to develop an appropriate mitigation plan if the Class III report docu- ments cultural resources which might be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Such consultation and any mitigation needed, includ- ing archeological fieldwork, will be completed before construction begins. A Categorical Exclusion pertaining to environmental impacts asso- ciated with refinements in the plan since the FR/FES has been approved. Public Involvement Public contributions during advance planning resulted in plan re- finements, particularly in the scope of eligibility for winter water replacement. As a result of public meetings and other input, eligibil- ity for winter stockwater replacement was widened to include not only current users who take winter stockwater from the canals, but also all UVWUA members, holders of carriage contracts with UVWUA, and holders of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) allotments traversed by project canals. S-6 0017;J6