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<br />NO FEDERAL ACTION <br /> <br />1.41 A No Federal Action plan was developed by the Federal Government <br /> <br /> <br />to evaluate the impacts of denying permits to construct either of the <br /> <br /> <br />projects proposed by the DWB or the alternatives to those projects. <br /> <br /> <br />Ground water Is the most prevalent source of water for portions of the <br /> <br /> <br />metropolitan areas that do not have ~ccess to adequate surface <br /> <br /> <br />supplies. The No Federal Action alternative that was evaluated uses <br /> <br /> <br />nontributary ground water as the major source together with a small <br /> <br /> <br />component of treated wastewater for irrigation of public use areas. <br /> <br />ThIs No Federal Action alternative represents only one of many <br /> <br /> <br />possible outcomes from permit denials. Purchase of agricultural water <br /> <br /> <br />and a myriad of other measures could take place. Nontributary ground <br /> <br /> <br />water development was chosen for this analysis because ground water is <br /> <br /> <br />available in many portions of the metropolItan area and it is the most <br /> <br /> <br />prevalent source for areas that are developing and have no water <br /> <br /> <br />supply. <br /> <br />1.42 The No Federal Action alternative is estimated to yield 79,100 <br /> <br /> <br />acre-feet per year. Unlike the other alternatives, this is not a <br /> <br /> <br />permanent supply. Nontributary ground water is not naturally <br /> <br /> <br />replaced. Therefore, it would be necessary to find a replacement for <br /> <br /> <br />this source as it becomes depleted. It would, however, provide <br /> <br /> <br />reliable yIelds for the period of analysis. <br /> <br />IMPACTS <br /> <br />1.43 Impacts of the No Federal Action alternative on most resources <br /> <br /> <br />would be insignificant. The following significant impacts would <br /> <br /> <br />occur: (I) ground water would ultimately be depleted, (2) existing <br /> <br /> <br />wells would experience reduced yields and increased pumping costs, and <br /> <br /> <br />(3) one-half of the future demand would be in areas with no <br /> <br /> <br />nontributary ground water source. These areas would have to import <br /> <br />1-33 <br />