Laserfiche WebLink
<br />30Se <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />E. Unavoidable Adverse Effects <br /> <br />1. Approximately 11,6116 acres of agricultural land including 9 <br />miles of natural river will be regularly inundated by the <br />reservoir at conservation pool level. <br /> <br />2. Borrow areas, quarries, and access roads will scar the existing <br />landscape during construction of the dam. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />3. Operational plans for Pueblo Reservoir are premised on the <br />winter storage of water except for small amounts to be deli- <br />vered for municipal and industrial needs for the City of <br />Pueblo. Reduction of winter flows in the Arkansas River down- <br />stream from Pueblo will impair the wintering waterfowl habi- <br />tat. Wintering ducks now inhabit the ri verbottoms during cold <br />weather when the numerous offstream reservoirs in the valley <br />freeze over. According to the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and <br />Wildlife, with the reduction of winter flows due to Project <br />operation, the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir will be <br />more prone to freeze and it is expected that about 25,000 <br />ducks will move out to the panhandles of Texas or Oklahoma. <br />This is an undesirable effect from the viewpoint of flyway <br />management since these areas are already considered to be in <br />critically short supply of wintering waterfowl habitats and <br />the influx of more birds would put an additional burden on <br />this habitat. <br /> <br />II. The proximity of Pueblo West and other developments may <br />result in pollutants being introduced into the reservoir via <br />storm' drainage. These pollutants may include pesticides and <br />fertilizers from lawns being established in the area. This <br />is not anticipated to be a significant problem due to the <br />a~id climate, natural desert theme of the area and high water <br />rates discouraging residential lawn establishment. <br /> <br />5. The reservoir water level will have a seasonal fluctuation of <br />nearly 80 vertical feet. Changes to the ecosystem have been <br />divided into anticipated physical, biological and social effects: <br /> <br />Physical.--As the reservoir water level drops, a smaller body <br />of water with fewer surface acres and a smaller shoreline will <br />be formed. Exposed mud flats and beaches will be subject to <br />wind erosion and possibly cause dust problelllS. Less wave <br />action and intensity of wave action than a large water body, <br />can be expected to occur. A smaller water body will be more <br />subject to the effects o.f organic and inorganic pollutants <br />from discharge into the lake. Organic matter increase in the <br />lake such as algae bloom and the rate of flow through the lake <br />may affect turbidity levels. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />50 <br />