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SUMMARY ( ) DRAFT (X) Final Environmental Statement ~ r-- r-- c-: Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado Region , . . Type of Action (X) Administrative Brief Description of Action ( ) Legislative ,-' 2. This statement describes the environmental impacts resulting from the construction and operation of the Salt-Gila Aqueduct and associated electrical transmission system. The aqueduct would convey Colorado River water from the tenninus of the Granite Reef Aqueduct in south- eastern Maricopa County to the beginning of the authorized Tucson Aqueduct in south-central Pinal County, Arizona. Water would enter the aqueduct at the Sa It-G i 1 a Pumpi ng Pl ant forebay, be ra i sed 74 feet (22.5 m), and would flow by gravity through the open, concrete-lined canal for 58 miles (93 km) to service areas in south-central Arizona. Construction of the feature is scheduled to begin in mid-1980, with project completion scheduled for 1985. 3. Summary of Environmental Impacts and Adverse Environmental Effects The average annual delivery of 1.2 million acre-feet (1.48 billion cubic meters) of Colorado River water to the central Arizona service area ~/oul d contribute to a decreased rate of ground-water drawdown and a possible reduction in earth subsidence due to decreased pumping from the ground-water reservoir. The Salt-Gila Aqueduct is a connecting link for proposed additional facilities which could serve about 550,000 people and provide about 420,000 acres of arable land with supplemental irri- gation water in the Pinal and Pima County areas. t\bout 2.649 acres (1,072 ha) of mos tly Sonoran desertsc rub vegeta ti on ~lOuld be removed or severely disturbed by construction of pennanent facilities. Associated wildlife populations would be lost within the 797 acres (323 ha) of habitat removed. Canal crossings and escape devices may be an integral part of the construction plan in order to reduce the potential drowning hazard to some wildl ife and 1 ivestock. Off-aqueduct wildlife oases and watering sites may be provided to miti- gate for habitat losses. Mitigation would be accompl ished at the 58 known archeological or historical sites which would be disturbed or destroyed. About 6,518 acres (2,639 ha) would be committed to the right-of-way restricting alternative development and future land use. 4. Alternatives Considered a. Alternative of no construction b. No construction in conjunction with a program of water conservation c. Alternative of delayed construction d. Alternative aqueduct routes 5. Statements are Being Distributed to the Following See attached list. 6. Date Final Statement Made Available to EPA and the Public .. ..,.."" ,.., - ---