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<br />... '/ .'-'~ v ". <br /> <br />-251- <br /> <br /> <br />New Federal irrigation develo~ent has considerably more <br />potential to increase agricultural productivity, stimulate local <br />economies, and stabilize local population than the Rehabilitation <br />and Betterment Program. With full development of the projects in <br />the regional plan, it is expected that an additional 5 to 6 <br />percent of the Basin's agricultural lands wi~ receive a <br />dependable supply of irrigation water. Implementation of new <br />irrigation developments will induce impacts related to the nature <br />and size of storage reservoirs and water distribution systems, <br />size of surface area, scope of leveling and possible associated <br />drainage operations, type of wildlife habitat or natural values <br />affected, reservoir and streamflow operations, and quantity and <br />quality of return flows. While specific adverse environmental <br />effects have been identified in the individual project <br />environmental impact statements, on a cumulative basis adverse <br />impacts on wildlife population and their habitat, historic and <br />cultural values, water quality, and energy consumption can be <br />expected. Currently these effects are being reduced through <br />planning efforts which deal with modification of project design, <br />or are being mitigated through habitat acquisition or restoration <br />procedures. Effects of added water consumptive use in the Basin <br />by these projects cannot be determined accurately on a cumulative <br />basis because of uncertainties about current water consumption <br />and availability of surface water supplies I however, it is <br />'estimated that this would approximate 1 to 2 percent of the <br />annual outflow from the Basin. The Missouri River Basin <br />Commission's Hydrology Study, to be completed in 1982, will <br />address current and future water supply and water usage patterns <br />in considerable detail, enabling future assessments to more <br />accurately display stream flow depletions. <br /> <br />Land Conservation and Manaqement <br /> <br />The recommended land conservation and management programs on <br />a cumulative basis are not expected to produce significant <br />adverse environmental effects and are more often supportive of <br />other programs. Federal and, in some cases, State cooperative <br />wind and water erosion control programs maintain soil resources <br />on agricultural lands and indirectly benefit water quality <br />through control of sediment and associated contaminants. The <br />shelterbelt programs, which encourage the planting of trees and <br />shrubs for windbreaks, indirectly improve the wildlife habitat <br />for many species of terrestrial wildlife. In some instances <br />shelterbelts may improve rural esthetics and provide fuel for <br />heating rural homes. Many State programs in the plan complement <br />Federal programs by providing assistance to landowners in the <br />