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<br />OJD93? <br /> <br />- 25 - <br /> <br />Parks and Outdoor Recreation Impact <br /> <br />It is estimated that park acreage necessary for the state park system <br />to handle expected visitation from the population associated with the high <br />scenario of energy production would be 27,000 acres. The cost for acquisition <br />of this additional acreage is expected to exceed $54 million. Further, the <br />Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation would require $10 million in <br />development funds to mitigate population impacts on as many as ten separate <br />water project sites. There would also be a requirement for funds to plan, <br />operate and maintain additional park areas. Further funds would be required <br />for construction and linkage of trails in the northwest portion of Colorado <br />to accommodate the influx of population and meet national, state and local <br />goals and policies for trails availability. The full burden of supplying <br />such recreational opportunities and obtaining the funds to do so should not <br />fall entirely upon Colorado state government. In addition, local counties, <br />recreation districts and municipalities would require as much as $41 million <br />in additional funds to adequately plan, acquire, develop, operate and maintain <br />recreational facilities in the northwest portion of Colorado by 1990. <br /> <br />The achievement of the high scenario of energy production probably would <br />require a less strict interpretation of existing Federal and state laws <br />concerning natural areas protection, recreational use of reservoirs, trails, <br />river recreation, and minimum stream flow provisions~ Such pressure to <br />shortcut existing standards and the lack of funds to fully implement recreational <br />opportunities would significantly diminish the quality of life for the <br />existing and new residents in northwest Colorado. <br /> <br />Soil Conservation Impact <br /> <br />It is estimated that approxima ~- the farmland in the northwest <br />portion of Colorado will be convert2:~ uses under the high scenario <br />of energy production. The existin~~laws do not prohibit land-owners from <br />misusing their land. Sometimes the result is soil erosion, water pollution, <br />destruction of natural environments, loss of prairie farmland and construction <br />of buildings on unsuitable sites. All of these problems would be accentuated <br />by the pressure to achieve rapid growth and production. These misuses of <br />the land would result in reduced agricultural production and future potential <br />for sustainable production. It would also result in additional water quality <br />problems and diminished recreational and esthetic use of waterways and land <br />areas. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />J <br /> <br />Mined Land Reclamation Impact <br /> <br />It is estimated that 128,000 acres would be under mining permit by <br />1990 at the high scenario of energy production. Generally only a portion <br />of the total permitted acreage is disturbed at any given time, but on those <br />lands which are disturbed there would be a loss of livestock grazing or <br />wildlife habitat usage. The general economic growth of the region would <br />require additional development of non-coal minerals, such as sand and gravel, <br />as well as limestone. These minerals are generally developed in alluvial deposits <br />near perennial streams. As a result, a rather modest increase in disturbed <br />acreage can have important effects upon other land uses, notably prime <br />agricultural land and critical riparian wildlife habitat. In addition, initial <br />studies have shown that reclaimed land can contribute more total dissolved <br />