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<br />I'- <br />C-"':i <br />~ <br />C"} <br />C <br />c:;;.' <br /> <br />OPTIONS FOR THE USE OF PROJECT WATER <br /> <br />The Federal policy for determining the use of CAP water has been to allow <br />the State to make recommendations to the Secretary of the Interior for <br />allocation of their CAP water. This was the approach taken in Arizona and <br />we expect the same procedure would be followed in New Mexico. Below are <br />some examples of the options available to New Mexico for using their CAP <br />water. <br /> <br />1. Provide CAP water to municipal and domestic users to provide a <br />renewable supply for present and future uses. Present projections <br />indicate that, in the year 2045, this use level will be up to 10,000 <br />acre-feet. However this option may not significantly reduce present <br />ground water overdraft in the Mimbres Basin. <br /> <br />2. Use the CAP water supply to reduce the present overdrafting <br />situation. A moderate to significant reduction in the level of <br />groundwater overdrafting in the Silver City area of Mimbres Basin <br />could be obtained by gradually reducing groundwater pumping and <br />replacing it with CAP water. The full use of the 12,000 acre-foot <br />CAP water supply could be achieved over a period of perhaps 15-25 <br />years. The program could include industrial, municipal, domestic, <br />and agricultural uses in the Mimbres Basin. Such a program would <br />help stabilize ground water levels in the Silver City area. <br /> <br />3. Reallocation of present supplies would result from No Federal Action. <br />This option may not significantly reduce the present ground water <br />overdrafting. <br /> <br />ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED IN EIS <br /> <br />The following are the issues we will address; if there are other issues you <br />believe should be included in the EIS, please complete the enclosed Response <br />Form. <br /> <br />Biological Resources <br /> <br />RIVER ECOLOGY. The Gila River in New Mexico is virtually an unregulated <br />river because there are no major dams on the system. Therefore, impacts to <br />the river ecology from regulation of streamflow and impoundment of water <br />will be addressed. <br /> <br />RIPARIAN VEGETATION. Riparian vegetation is a limited resource in the <br />Southwest and has a high ecological value. The riparian vegetation on the <br />Gila River is designated as a Resource Category I by the FWS, the highest <br />value for a resource, and considered unmitigable by FWS. Loss of riparian <br />vegetation from each alternative will be displayed by habitat units which <br />incorporate quality times quantity. <br /> <br />UPLAND HABITAT. The upland habitat surrounding the Gila River is important <br />for many types of wildlife. Loss of this resource from each alternative <br />will be addressed by loss of habitat units, that is, quality times quantity. <br /> <br />6 <br />