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<br /> <br />E, Socioeconomic and visual aspects <br /> <br />Acquisition of a portion of the Lillpop Ranch would place 847 acres of private <br /> <br />land under Federal ownership. The removal of these lands from the tax base <br /> <br />would result in losses to local taxing entities. In order to offset these <br /> <br />losses to local governments, Public. Lal~ 94-565, "Payments. in Lieu of Taxes Act," <br /> <br />provides for annual payments in lieu of taxes based on acreage removed from the <br /> <br />county tax roles. Accordingly, Alamosa County would be entitled to these <br /> <br />payments. <br /> <br />Acquisition of the Lillpop property would leave the Lillpop Ranch with about <br /> <br />800 acres of land for use in a reduced livestock operation. <br /> <br />,<{-.' -, . <br />. ","- <br /> <br />" <~~ <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />More intensive management of existing wetlands and wetland habitat and develop- <br /> <br />ment of additional wetland habitat would occur under this proposal. Increases <br /> <br />in waterfowl production would potentially increase hunting days and would <br /> <br />thereby increase net benefits from hunting in the San Luis Valley. <br /> <br />From a visual resource standpoint, the acquisition of these lands and subsequent <br /> <br />use as Refuge lands would commit these lands for use by wildlife. <br /> <br />The Refuge would be required under this plan to assume O&M costs of additional <br /> <br />Chicago Ditch maintenance and maintenance of the river diversion structure. <br /> <br />F. Mitigation aspects <br /> <br />As referenced in section III-E, Alamosa County would be compensated for losses <br /> <br />of lands on tsx roles under the Payments in Lieu of Taxes Act. <br /> <br />III-9 <br /> <br />{;,-""347 <br />\: (j \./' ' <br /> <br />