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r.c c:-: C!:l (',.' C C and pumping plant could be constructed, then as the need for the water increases to the full amount allocated, Small Hooker Dam could be constructed to store the additional water. The operation of Hooker Dam is being formulated in a manner to minimize flow effects on native fish and riparian habitat. Hooker Dam would inundate the riparian and upland habitat within the reservoir pool and would have indirect impact on some lands immediately downstream that are managed by the Nature Conservancy. Mangas Creek Dam and Reservoir would inundate riparian and upland habitats within the reservoir pool. A Hooker Dam operation that would not adversely affect downstream populations of spikedace and loach minnows is still in the development stage. Although the small Hooker Dam would not inundate any of the Gila Wilderness Area, it would denude the vegetation at the entrance to the Wilderness. Direct Pumping with Offstream Storage at Mangas Creek Similar to the staged construction approach with the Small Hooker and Mangas Creek Dams alternative, the direct pumping could be staged by constructing a smaller pumping plant, then, when there is a need for the full allocation, another pump could be added to pump and lift the full supply to the offstream storage facility. A diversion dam and high capacity pumping plant would be constructed in the vicinity of the confluence of Mangas Creek and the Gila River. Water would be pumped directly from the Gila River only during periods of high flows. The water would be pumped into Mangas Creek Dam for permanent storage. Direct pumping would affect Gila River flows and may impact special status fish, although to a lesser degree than the other alternatives. Mangas Creek Dam and Reservoir would affect riparian and upland habitats in the reservoir area. CONVEYANCE SYSTEMS Although not part of the Federal construction action of the Upper Gila Water Supply Study, conveyance systems would be required to convey the stored water from either Conner or Mangas Creek to the users. The local water users would be responsible for the construction of the conveyance facility and Federal funding could be made available to assist the users in the construction financing. The New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission (Commission) and the town of Silver City submitted a draft of their preliminary planning report to Reclamation. The report describes a proposal for a pipeline (conveyance facility) from the Gila River up Mangas Creek to the vicinity of Silver City's wellfields. It should be noted that construction of distribution systems, like similar CAP distribution systems in Arizona, will require additional environmental analysis to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements. 5