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<br />. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />308~ <br /> <br />development near Liberty Point, north of Pueblo Reservoir and <br />adjacent to Pueblo West, and for motels to be built along U. S. <br />Highway No. 50. Proposed recreational development at Pueblo <br />Reservoir strongly influenced decisions to proceed with the pri- <br />vate developments adjacent to the reservoir. These developments <br />convert a hi~h plains grassland area into an urban development. <br /> <br />H. Alternatives to Prol'osed Action <br /> <br />1. No Dam and Reservoir <br /> <br />The no-development alternative would reeult in a Project area <br />relatively unchanged and unaltered from an environmental <br />standpoint. Principal needs not fully satiefied by this <br />alternative include (1) regulation and terminal storage space <br />for Project water and Arkansas River winter flows, (2) supple- <br />mental irrigation to 280,600 acres in the Arkansas Valley, <br />(3) flood control for protection of Pueblo and to lesser extent <br />Arkaneas Valley towns, (4) storage and regulation of municipal <br />and industrial water for Pueblo and Arkansas Valley communities, <br />(5) recreation facilities, (6) fish and wildlife-oriented <br />opportunities, and (7) sediment reduction. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The spin-off effects of the no-Project alternative would be <br />(l).probable implementation of stringent water restrictions, <br />prfmarily in the City of Pueblo, (2) private development <br />encroachment on the Arkansas River eliminating public access, <br />(3) farm lands would be consolidated into larger units, (4) <br />an outward migration of rural people to urban areas will <br />continue, (5) some cultivated land would be used as rangeland <br />as the vater supplies depleted, and (6) the Arkansas Valley <br />communities would receive lower quality water. <br /> <br />As of January 1, 1972, the Bureau has expended approximately <br />$23.4 million for construction of Pueblo Dam and Reservoir <br />under the first contract. Should the dam not be completed, <br />the public would not only lose the investment in the dam <br />foundation work completed, but would also realize less bene- <br />fits from the funds that have been expended on other completed <br />facilities of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. Further invest- <br />ment would be required to restore and rehabilitate those areas <br />where construction is completed or underway on the dam. <br /> <br />53 <br />