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C'.J CJ 00 C'J c c: INTRODUCTION The purpose of this document is to initiate formal EIS SCOPING discussions with members of the public and governmental agencies who have an interest or may be affected by the Upper Gila Water Supply Project. A major effort is now underway by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for preparation of a draft environmental impact statement (EIS). To insure that the full range of alternatives and issues related to the alternatives are identified and addressed in the EIS, Reclamation will conduct EIS SCOPING meetings to obtain your comments and suggestions. Reclamation has identified five alternatives that will be included in the EIS. They are: No Federal Action (Acquisition of Water Rights for Municipal and Domestic Uses) Conner Dam-Size 1 Conner Dam-Size 2 Small Hooker Dam with Offstream Storage at Mangas Creek Direct Pumping with Offstream Storage at Mangas Creek The impacts of each of these alternatives will be discussed in detail in the EIS. The proposed action will be identified and announced to the public in June 1986. The significant issues that will be addressed in the EIS include biological and cultural resources, recreation, water Quality, and flood control. These issues are discussed briefly in this report. Other environmental concerns will be described in less detail since we do not believe they would affect plan selection. They are: air Quality, visual resources, and land use. Other alternatives that were examined during the Upper Gila Water Supply Study will be discussed in the EIS as alternatives considered but eliminated from further study. The public meetings in Silver City and Thatcher will provide an opportunity for you to be involved in assisting Reclamation in determining whether or not all reasonable alternatives have been examined, and to be sure all impacts and effects have been identified for discussion in the EIS. The EIS will also discuss the effects of downstream exchanges of Gila River water for CAP water for all alternatives except No Federal Action. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM FOR SELECTION OF PROPOSED ACTION The costs and environmental impacts information for selection of the proposed action is scheduled to be available in the early part of 1986. At that time a public involvement program will be conducted to receive your comments on which plan should be selected as the proposed action. A summary of the alternatives, their costs, and environmental aspects will be prepared for your review and public meetings will be held to receive your comments. 1