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<br />1\ 1'\ 4)o-1I!''"' e,., - .' <br />uv,;....,..)O <br /> <br />Alternatives, Including Proposed Action <br /> <br />2-28 <br /> <br />widening and would total about 36.0 acres for the 750-cfs project.6 Of this, 6.6 acres will <br />be compensated for at the wetland mitigation site (see below), leaving a potential <br />requirement for 29.6 acres of supplemental mitigation (39 acres for the 850-cfs project, <br />and 49.8 acres for the 950-cfs facility). <br /> <br />Sponsors have indicated that, according to environmental and geomorphic consultants <br />hired to assess project effects, widening impacts will be temporary, and that new wetlands <br />will accrue as the channel margin adjusts to project flows. As such, the Sponsors believe <br />that there will be no net adverse effect associated with widening. Sponsors also cite the <br />enhanced diversity associated with water level changes as further evidence of possible <br />net, long-term benefit (See Chapter 3). However, during the 404 process, Sponsors <br />agreed that they would provide mitigation for all temporary widening impacts in advance <br />of project operation. This should provide supplemental mitigation that will ensure all <br />impacts are mitigated in the event Sponsors' predictions are wrong, and no new wetlands <br />develop. Any new wetlands that appear on the widened channel margin will be <br />considered a project enhancement. <br /> <br />With respect to this supplemental mitigation, prior to commencement of project <br />construction, prospective mitigation sites totaling 29,6 acres (39 acres for the 850-cfs <br />project, and 49.8 acres for the 950-cfs project) will be identified. Sponsors will attempt <br />to spread these sites across at least 7 of the 15 Wetland Reaches identified in the Wetland <br />Study (See Table 3-17), In accordance with Sponsors' agreement with the COE, both the <br />Wetlands Mitigation Site (12 acres total) and the Supplemental Mitigation Sites (29.6 to <br />49,8 acres, depending on alternative) will be acquired and constructed prior to <br />commencement of project operations. This will ensure that a mitigation site is in place <br />within one reach of any impact.7 The Project Sponsors will manage all mitigation sites. <br /> <br />Sponsors have also agreed to monitor and replace cottonwoods and woody-riparian <br />vegetarian, as close to the impact as is practical. Locally available stock would be used, <br />and planting and subsequent maintenance and monitoring would be in accordance with <br />NRCS practices. Landowner permission and site-specific limitations will influence this <br />effort. <br /> <br />2.4.5.2 Site Design and Implementation <br /> <br />Sponsors have prepared a preliminary Wetlands Mitigation Plan, which is attached with <br />this Supplemental EIS as Appendix A. The Sponsors will finalize the plan during <br />detailed design of the facility. Reclamation must approve the plan prior to <br />commencement of project construction. The plan will contain the following: <br /> <br />. Identification, selection and legal description of the specific mitigation site(s) <br /> <br />. <br />1 <br /> <br />For the 850 and 950 cfs projects, the widening impacts would be 45,6 and 56.4 acres, respectively. <br />Greystone's reach boundaries were based largely on watershed features, such as diversions and stream <br />confluences, The wetland types found along the river are relatively uniform, and do not exhibit <br />significant reach-to-reach changes. Mitigating in a reach adjacent to the impact should preserve the <br />potentially lost function. <br /> <br />AS Lateral Hydropower Project <br /> <br />July 2000 <br /> <br />t; <br /> <br />-.;.<, -"- -~-, <br />