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SUMMARY (X) Draft () Final Environmental Statement Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Upper Colorado Region 1. Type of Action: (X) Administrative () Legislative 2. Description of the proposal: The Uintah Unit would be located in Uintah and Duchesne Counties in northeastern Utah. The project would include Uinta and Whiterocks Reser- voirs on the Uinta and Whiterocks Rivers, respectively, modification of 13 high country lakes in the Ashley National Forest, and rehabilitation of about 15 miles of existing canals. The main project purpose would be to bring under irrigation and provide a full water supply to 7,818 acres of Indian land in the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation; t.o eliminate present water shortages on 20,602 acres of Indian land on the reservation; and to reduce water shortages on 38,710 acres of non-Indian land. The proj eel also would supply water for municipal and industrial use in the town of Roosevelt. Other important project features would include recreation facili- ties at Uinta and Whiterocks Reservoirs and at several sites upstream in Ashley National Forest. A big game range improvement program and the installation of stream fishery habitat structures would also be included as part of the project to compen- sate for fish and wildlife losses tbat would otherwise occur. Flood control would be afforded on the Uinta and Wbiterocks Rivers. A 6-year construction period is anticipated. 3. Summary of environnental impacts and unavoidable adverse effects: Agricultural pro- duction would be increased, as would farm and related incomes and employment oppor- tunities. Overall social conditions and long-term growth trends would be essentially unchanged, but an influx of recreationists to Uinta Reservoir would inevitably intrude upon the seclusion of the reservation. Recreation opportunities would be expanded by the construction of Uinta and White- rocks Reservoirs, and the high country lakes modification program would enhance the quality of wilderness-type recreation experiences in Ashley National Forest. Flat- water fishing would be increased with construction of the two new reservoirs. Though about 5 miles of fair-quality stream fishery would be inundated and winter flows below the reservoirs reduced, the present quality of the stream fishery in the area would be maintained by the installation of habitat structures or other improvements in about 9 miles of the Uinta River, 2 miles of the Yellowstone River, 2 miles in Pole Creek, and 4 miles in Powerhouse Canal. Big game hunting opportunities, pri- marily for deer, would be maintained through the provision of a big game range im- provement program on about 2,850 acres of range land on the reservation. This pro- gram would compensate for the alteration of about 9,000 acres which presently pro- vides deer with range. Although there would be an unavoidable loss of one _ sage grouse strutting ground from full service irrigation, there would be an overall improvement in upland game hunting opportunities. Average annual flows in the Uinta River would be reduced by 28,200 acre-feet, result- ing in a net decrease of 0.8 percent in the Colorado River. Salinity in the Colorado River at Imperial Dam would be increased by an average of 3.5 mgll from stream deple- tions and 1.6 mgfl from salt loading. Water quality in the Duchesne, Green, and Colorado Rivers would not be significantly affected by increased uses of pesticides and fertilizers. Bureau of Reclamation analysis to the contrary, the Fish and Wild- life Service has expressed the opinion that the unit may contribute to the further decline of endangered fish species in the Green River downstream of the project. The natural setting would be intruded upon by man-made structures and some exposed foreshores. Many materials sources would be inundated. No archaeological sites would be disturbed by the project. 4. Alternatives considered: 1. Non-Federal development of the project. 2. Three alternative plans. 3. Five plans for partial development. 5. Statements are being distributed to the following: See list on next page. 6. Date draft statement made available to EPA and the public: JUL 19 1978