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M~,,"/t7 ~ ., to convey non-Project water represented by these shares in Reclamation canals, The Contract would be signed under the autlloliiy of the Warren Act, February 21, 1911 936 Stat. 925 and 43 CFR 426,18(b) as well as the Dolores Project authorizing legislation. The primary altemative to the proposed action is the No Action Altemative. Under the No Action Alternative, two possible outcomes are projected: I) The DWCD would still acquire shares of MVIC stock and use the water for new irrigation without using Federally-owned canals and 2) The MVIC water shares would remain with MVIC for future sale, intermittent irrigation use, or other uses. The Carriage Contract requires the DWCD to pay the United States for use of Reclamation canals and would include environmental and other commitments as listed at the end of this Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and in the fmal environmental assessment (EA.), A draft and a tinal EA were completed on the proposed action. In general, the majority of comments received on the EA opposed completion of the Carriage Contract because it was perceived as either taking water away from the Dolores River fishery and recreation resource .or because it was:perceived as foreclosing options of adding water to the Dolores River.. Several commentors recommended preparation of an environmental impact statement based on salinity impacts or other factors, Supporters of the Carriage Contract cited the benefits of strengthening the agricultural economy and maintaining open space, Environmental Impacts Hvdrolo~. Streamflows, and Water Oualitv--The up to 8,000 acre-feet of none Project water has historically been diverted, when available and needed, from the Dolores River to irrigate lands in the San Juan River Basin. In the last 10 years, the water has been divertedintennittently as needed. Under the proposed action, the water would be diverted from the Dolores River when needed and when available, with return flows (approximately 1,200 acre-feet) enteringthe,San Juan River. The continued depletion of water from the Dolores River would concentrate salts in the Dolores/Colorado River system; amounting to approximately an 0.8 milligrams/liter (mg/l) increase as me~ured on the Colorado River at Imperial Dam. For comparison purposes,. observed conCentration at that point was 669 mg/l in 1999 (the numeric salinity standard at that point is 879 mg/I), There would be essentially no salt loading to the San Juan River due to the new irrigation Of low-saline lands with efficient irrigation systems, This new irrigation is compatible with existing contracts that call for water saved as a result of salinity control efforts be used only in a manner which will not result in any material increase in salinity inflow, Several commentors were concerned that water made available as a result of irrigation improvements <:;ompleted under the Colorado RiverBasin Salinity Control Program, as much of the 8,000 acre-feet is, should not be used for additional irrigation, The objective of the Salinity Control Program is maintenance of salinity levels found in the mainstem of the Colorado River 2 } ,;, ~ < .'-.'