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<br />3441 <br /> <br />The source of the waters to be developed in Homestake Phase II are Cross <br />and Fall Creeks, both tributary to the Eagle River. The water rights <br />were adjudicated in 1962. This Supreme Court decision can be found at <br />365 P2d 273. <br /> <br />According to sampling by the Cities, as well as STORET (a compilation of <br />USGS and Colorado Health Department monitoring results), the water <br />quality of Cross and (inferentially) Fall Creeks is very good. All <br />waters are of a quality for drinking and other municipal uses. (See <br />DEIS, p.3-8) The projected impacts of Homestake Phase II diversions on <br />the water quality parameters of total dissolved solids (TDS) and hardness <br />were analyzed at two locations: Eagle River at Dowd Junction and Colorado <br />River at Dotsero. Water quality sampling data is very limited at Dowd <br />Junction but is plentiful at Edwards, about five miles farther downstream. <br />Furthermore, since there is no stream gauging station at Dowd Junction, <br />the historic stream flows at that point were calculated using U.S. <br />Geological Survey (USGS) stream gauging records for upstream locations. <br />Water quality sample data at Edwards was used in conjunction with calculated <br />historic stream flows at Dowd Junction in order to calculate the potential <br />impacts at that location. The effect of using this procedure is that <br />the magnitude of the calculated water quality changes at Dowd Junction <br />are slightly overstated. Ample water quality and stream flow data are <br />available for the Colorado River at Dotsero to assure adequate direct <br />calculation of impacts at that location. <br /> <br />The analysis, summarized in the table below, shows that concentrations <br />in TDS and hardness are expected to increase, but that the changes are <br />not significant. It should be noted that the table reflects the average <br />chsnges which may be expected during only the high runoff (snowmelt) <br />diversion season which occurs during the May-August inclusive time <br />frame. Concentrations of TDS and hardness after diversions by Homestake <br />Phase II will still be lower than those experienced during winter low <br />flow periods. <br /> <br />Projected Impact on TDS and Hardness <br /> <br />Concentration (mg/l) <br /> <br />Pre-diversion Post-diversion <br /> <br />Change <br /> <br />Current <br />Winter Levels <br /> <br />TDS: <br />Dowd Junction 136.5 160.3 23.8 (17.4%) 330.8 <br />Dotsero 223.3 229.7 6.4 (2.9%) 247.5 <br />Hardness: <br />Dowd Junction 98.0 114.2 16.2 (16.5%) 234.9 <br />Dotsero 129.3 132.8 3.5 (2.7%) 135.3 <br /> <br />The impacts of Homestake Phase II diversions were also analyzed in light <br />of the stream classification standards established for the Eagle River <br />below Cross Creek. The following table lists the expected change relative <br />to each standard. <br /> <br />9 <br />