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<br />O~i5-~7 <br /> <br />Alternatives, Including Proposed Action <br /> <br />2-27 <br /> <br />access to the site occurs from the top of the bank, temporary access lanes would be sited <br />according to the landowner's desires and would later be reclaimed for use by the <br />landowner. In cases where access to the site could be obtained only from the river side of <br />the bank and wetlands would be affected, the temporary access road would be in place for <br />no more than two weeks and the wetland area would subsequently be restored. <br />Maintenance easements or access permission would be secured for all sites for the life of <br />the project. <br /> <br />2.4.4 <br /> <br />Restoration of Disturbed Lands <br /> <br />The Sponsors would pay for any damages to crops or other property associated with the <br />construction and operation easements. In areas disturbed by construction, approximately <br />211 acres would be revegetated using topsoil stripped and stockpiled to this use. These <br />areas include land along the AB Lateral, the transmission line, and the penstock right-of- <br />way, and near the tailrace and powerhouse. The landowner would direct the type of <br />revegetation for cultivated lands. Where not required for maintenance roads, lands within <br />the penstock and canal easements would be returned to existing uses. Excess material <br />from penstock construction would be disposed of according to contract specifications. <br /> <br />2.4.5 <br /> <br />Wetland Mitigation, Uncompahgre River <br /> <br />Development of the proposed project would impact riparian wetlands along the <br />Uncompahgre River. Impacts are described in Section 3.10.2 of this report. Mitigation <br />of these impacts would be accomplished through on-site, in-kind wetland creation, and by <br />constructing new wetlands. <br /> <br />The Project would increase the amount of water in the Uncompahgre River. This action <br />could produce additional wetland acres adjacent to the river, as noted in Section 3.10.2 of <br />this report. The Sponsors estimate that wetlands acreage would be enhanced by at least <br />54.9 acres for Alternative E-3 to 90.7 acres for Alternative E-1. If these projections of <br />overall net benefits are correct, then mitigation will have been unnecessary. However, if <br />the project's anticipated beneficial effects fail to materialize, then mitigation in the full <br />amount of anticipated impact will have been constructed and implemented in advance. <br />Construction plans for the AB Lateral Hydropower Facility considered methods for <br />avoiding and minimizing impacts to wetlands and the creation of wetlands where impacts <br />could not be avoided. Due to the contiguity of wetland communities along the banks of <br />the Uncompahgre River, total avoidance of wetlands is not possible. Therefore, the <br />Sponsors' proposed mitigation plans include provisions for direct and indirect impacts to <br />wetlands. <br /> <br />2.4.5.1 <br /> <br />Site Acreage, identification, and Locations <br /> <br />The proposed project would have approximately 1.0 acre of direct impact resulting from <br />placement of the bank stabilization measures. Indirect impacts would result from channel <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July 2000 <br /> <br />c. <br /> <br />Ii. ,-',.'-.10:".---"i <br />