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SUMMARY (Continued) . Independent and Emery Canals and would supply culinary water for the towns of Emery and Moore. The resulting increased water supply and reduced water loss would also create an adequate water supply for indus- trial purposes and could reduce salt loading from the Emery area by up to 13,000 tons annually. However, the total plan is being held in abeyance awaiting development which is expected when coal mining becomes more economically attractive. Because this development is uncertain in the foreseeable future, the annual salt reduction to the Colorado River for the no-action alternative is projected to be zero. With the no-action alternative, however, problems created by 20,900 tons of salt entering the Colorado River from saline spring sources in the unit area would continue. Environmental Consequences Population, employment, income, and housing . Under the no-action alternative, the social and economic conditions described earlier are expected to prevail. Under the recommended plan, the peak construction work force is projected at 26 people. Long-term operation and maintenance of the unit would provide four positions. Some employment of local workers may result, but no significant long-term population impacts are expected. The economic effects on Bicknell, Hanksville, Green River, and Emery would be a minimal increase in wages and buying power during construction. The economy would return to approximate preconstruct ion levels after construction. Operation and maintenance of the unit would provide an estimated 4.5 work-years for each year of the 50-year life of the unit. An estimated increase in annual income of $112,000 would be realized. Because of the large number of available homes and the small influx of people during construction, no significant change in housing or serv- ices is anticipated. Land use . Land use trends in the unit area are expected to be unaffected by either the recommended plan or the no-action alternative. The major land uses of the area are cattle grazing and recreation. Construction of the unit would limit public use of approximately 25 acres of land administered by the BLM. Hanksville Salt Wash would be dewatered for 4.5 miles, but water is available above the collection point in the wash and from Muddy Creek below the wash. If postproject monitoring indicated the fencing portion of the wildlife mitigation plan should be implemented, cattle would be denied access of up to 4.5 miles of Muddy Creek downstream of its confluence with Hanksville Salt Wash. This would result in a live- stock grazing loss of approximately three animal-unit months. Any pro- posed fencing of Muddy Creek would be coordinated with the Bureau of Land 002323 S-15