WSP04850 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

,',---,--= - A maximum of 10 fishing access points may be located at bridges to be constructed crossing the conveyance channel at existing county roads. The con- veyance channel cold-water fishery could provide an average of 10,000 fisherman- days annually. However, channel modifications to improve fish habitat are not economically justifiable and are not included in channel design. E. Livestock operations. Livestock grazing operations within the San Luis Valley in general and within the project specifically vary from season to season and year to year. Most of the 130,000 acres of land within project boundaries are overgrazed and have been for many years. After project construction is complete and revegetation has occurred, approximately 1,000 acres of land would be removed from production. Another 11,098 acres of terrestrial vegetation and 8,460 acres of wetland would possibly be damaged in terms of forage production. These 19,558 acres of forage pro- ducing land would not be lost, but plants could decrease in density and vigor. F. Structures. Construction of the conveyance channel will directly affect some existing structures of the Alamosa NWR and Blanca WHA. 1. Alamosa NWR. The conveyance channel is the only major project feature that would directly affect Alamosa NWR. As presently designed, the channel would cross 3.1 miles (about 115 acres) of the refuge and would inter- sect the existing Chicago and Mum ditches, two smaller lateral canals, and one road. The ditches and canals would be passed under the conveyance channel in siphon structures, and the channel would be siphoned under the existing road. The project will provide 5,300 acre-feet of water annually to Alamosa NWR as mitigation for construction and operation effects within project boundaries. 2. Blanca WHA. Construction of the conveyance channel through 1.3 miles (about 50 acres) of the eastern portion of Blanca WHA will damage about 4,000 feet of existing dike and 10 waterfowl nesting islands in one pond. Although the effect of drawdown of the water table on Blanca WHA would not be immediate, the overall long-term effect would determine the use of waters pro- vided and their placement for maximum beneficial use. Placement of the con- veyance channel would also affect the distribution of waters provided. G. Cultural Resources. The 1979 FES included specific plans to assure compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act and other legislation. Specific cultural resources effects were impossible to identify in 1979 since the project is to be constructed in stages and the design of project features is flexible. The locations of all Stage 1-2 project ~eatures have now been designated. All of these areas to which access was permitted have been inspected for the presence of cultural resources. The 1979 FES specified that the conveyance channel in Stages 1-2 and 3 was the area of greatest potential impact to cultural resources. The entire area of the preliminary alinement of these features has been inspected and the initial 1 ,.. ... ~. ,...,. ~ ". .~ . .'1_ li (}.....