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<br />FI~~ING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT <br /> <br />Big Sandy River Unit <br />Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Study <br />Sublette County, Wyoming <br /> <br />The Environmental Assessment indicates this Federal action would not <br />cause significant adverse local, regional, or national impacts on the <br />environment. <br /> <br />The Selected Plan calls for the following structures to be installed on <br />a maximum of 15,700 acres of irrigated land to reduce salinity in the <br />Colorado River Basin. <br /> <br />Distribution Pipeline and Risers <br />Motor, Pumps, and Valves <br />Low Pressure Sprinkler Irrigation Systems <br />Automated Border Irrigation Systems <br />Irrigation Wasteway System <br />Voluntary Wildlife Habitat Development and Enhancement <br />(Wetland and Upland) <br /> <br />Actual acreage would vary depending on individual participation in the <br />program. Participation would be voluntary and implemented through <br />long-term contracts administered by the USDA Agricultural Stabilization <br />and Conservation Service. Technical assistance for conservation <br />planning, implementation of planned practices, assistance to realize <br />irrigation water management objectives, and installation of wildlife <br />practices would be provided by the Soil Conservation Service. A project <br />team would consist of soil conservationists, an irrigation water <br />management specialist, engineers, a biologist, civil engineering <br />technicians, and soil conservation technicians. Additional irrigation <br />water management assistance would be provided by the Cooperative <br />Extension Service. <br /> <br />Implementation of the Selected Plan will result in a reduction of an <br />estimated 52,900 tons of salt annually entering the Big Sandy River. <br />This would amount to a decrease in salinity in the Green River at the <br />town of Green River, Wyoming, of 26.67 milligrams per liter or a <br />decrease of 5.49 milligrams per liter at Imperial Dam on the lower <br />Colorado River. <br /> <br />The Selected Plan would also increase hay production by an average yield <br />greater than 2 tons annually, In addition to the increased yields, <br />irrigators will be able to go to pure stands of alfalfa and realize a <br />higher value crop. Other benefits would include: stands maturing <br />earlier, remaining productive longer, and producing a second cutting <br />yearly. <br /> <br />If all eligible acres were converted to sprinkler irrigatioG,J~~6S <br />3,775 acres of irrigation water induced and supplemented wetlands (USFWS <br />Circ. 39, Types 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, and 10) would be affected. Reduced water <br />supply would occur on about 1,010 acres of wetlands, and 2,765 acres of <br /> <br />i <br />