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~ 00 .-t o :-) .,~ '-' Chapter II I AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES General Impacts Future conditions without the proposed project should follow current trends. Some irrigated cropland would continue to be converted to residential development, while acres in orchards would cycle, but remain fairly stable. The ditches would continue to provide some aesthetic diversity to the area, and unauthorized recreational use of ditch rights- of-ways would continue and perhaps increase with increasing human population growth. The proposed project would complete the lining of the 9.1-mile-long Price Ditch and replace the 10.2 miles of the Stubb Ditch with a buried pipeline. During construction, local residents would be impacted by noise and dust, and the inconveniences of travel delays and detours. Vegetation within the ditch rights-of-ways would be lost during construction. Following construction, plants dependent upon water seeping from the ditches would not replace themselves. Water Supply Stream Flows and Water Riohts The proposed changes to the ditches would reduce seepage from the ditches and consequently, more water should remain in the irrigation systems than has historically. This water is commonly called "salvaged" or "saved" water and is estimated at 1,615 acre-feet per year. The districts have agreed not to use this saved water in a manner which would materially increase the salinity contribution to the Colorado River. Beyond that requirement Colorado State water law would determine the destiny of the salvaged water. It is anticipated that if the districts can continue to show beneficial use of all diverted water, no change in water rights would occur. Since both districts are essentially land locked, the likelihood of increasing their service areas is small. Studies conducted by Reclamation have indicated that the supply of water to both ditches is significantly less than other ditches in the valley based upon design standards. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that their peak diversion rate will not decrease and beneficial use of the Districts' full water rights will be maintained. Aoricultural Practices Present Conditions Agriculture has been an important industry in the Unit area since the first settlers began irrigating in the 1880's. Principal cash crops include fruit (apples, peaches, pears, apricots, and cherries), vineyards, corn, barley, and other grains. Alfalfa and corn ensilage are the main forage crops. Because of the low precipitation in the valley, irrigation is essential for agriculture. Irrigation water is diverted from the Colorado River into major canals that feed smaller laterals. Smaller on-farm ditches then 18