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SUMMARY (Continued) the average salt load contributed by the Uinta Basin will remain essen- tially const8nt in the future. Environmental Consequences Topography, 8cenery, and climate Present conditions of topography, 8cenery, and climate would likely continue under the no-action alternative. Under the recommended plan, 8hort-term impact8 would occur during project construction in the form of heavy equipment, excavation, clearing operations, and other construc- tion activities which would temporarily disturb the topogr8phy or de- tract from the scenery. The recommended p18n would re8u1t in some 10ng- term e8thetic impact8 in the form of 10s8 of sC8ttered wetlands and riparian cover but would have no effect on flood plains. No short- or long-term impact8 would occur to the climate. Vegetation Under the no-action alternative, present conditions of vegetation would likely continue because (1) it is unlikely that the canals and laterals would be rehabilitated under any progr8m other than the Colorado River Water Quality Improvement Program, (2) it is unlikely th8t any cana18 would be 8ignificant1y dewatered as a result of sale of irriga- tion water rights to energy concerns, and (3) it i8 unlikely that any large amount of agricultural land would be converted to residential use. Construction and operation of the recommended plan would cause an e8ti- mated permanent net 1088 of about 280 acres of rip8rian 8hrub-tree and 100 acres of wetland cover types. There would be an estimated increase of 384 acre8 of desert 8hrub and 500 acres of irrigated lands, of which 300 acre8 would be developed specifically for wildlife. The u8e of aggregate materials from material-80urce (borrow) areas along each canal right-of-way would cause temporary 108se8 of desert shrub cover, probably between 150 and 200 acres. After use, the borrow and wa8te areas would be recontoured and revegetated. Wildlife Under the no-action alternative, cover types in the project area would not 1 ike1y change significantly in the future. Similarly, the wildlife u8ing these cover types would not be significantly affected. A8 a result of the vegetation changes de8cribed above, the recommended plan would benefit 80me upland game birds and other wildlife species associated with the irrigated crop and desert shrub cover 8t the expense of beaver, muskrat, waterfowl, and others associated with the ripari8n shrub-tree cover. Because habitat los8es would be fully mitigated, how- ever, the recommended plan would not violate Executive Order 11990, Protection of Wetlands. The recommended plan would have little effect on mule deer and pronghorn, except that an estimated three to five ani- mals could drown annually in the larger canals. The larger canals would also become a barrier to big game movement during irrigation season. 0004.5 S-10