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<br />CJ <br />0) <br />.... <br />o <br />:"") <br /> <br />Chapter III <br /> <br />AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND <br />ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES <br /> <br />-~ <br />'.....' <br /> <br />water and is estimated at 1,615 acre feet per year. The districts have <br />agreed not to use this saved water in a manner which would materially <br />increase the salinity contribution to the Colorado River. Beyond that <br />requirement, Colorado State Water law would determine the destiny of the <br />salvaged water. It is anticipated that if the districts can continue to <br />show beneficial use of all diverted water, no change in water rights would <br />occur. Since both districts are essentially land locked, the likelihood of <br />increasing their service areas is small. <br /> <br />Studies conducted by Reclamation have indicated that the supply of water to <br />both ditches is significantly less than other ditches in the valley based <br />upon design standards. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the peak <br />diversion rate will not decrease and beneficial use of the Districts' full <br />water rights will be maintained. <br /> <br />Neither the bald eagle, whooping crane, or peregrine falcon, nor their <br />existing or potential habitat would be adversely affected by proposed <br />improvements to the Price and Stubb Ditches. Both ditches pass through <br />urban or agricultural lands that have experienced, and are currently <br />experiencing, high levels of human disturbances. The only potential <br />habitat features remaining for any of these species would be an occasional <br />large cottonwood tree that could be used as a perch site for bald eagles. <br />The proposed and initiated mitigation plan for Stage One and Stage Two of <br />the Grand Valley Unit which acquires, protects, and develops lands along <br />the Colorado River, will help preserve winter habitat for bald eagles. No <br />potential whooping crane roosting habitat exists along the proposed <br />construction zones, and existing human disturbance features would probably <br />preclude use of potential upland feeding sites (Armbruster, 1990). <br />Adequate hunting habitat for peregrine falcons should continue to occur <br />with or without the proposed project, although ditch improvements would <br />reduce hunting habitat. <br /> <br />No confirmed sightings of black-footed ferrets exist for the proposed <br />project area, and the nearest potential habitat for the ferret's principal <br />prey, the white-tailed prairie dog, occurs north of I-70 outside the <br />proposed project area. Some borrow sites potentially supplying fill for <br />Price or Stubb Ditch construction occur north of I-70, and the <br />environmental safeguards for these sites have been previously outlined in <br />the Grand Valley Unit Stage Two Development FEIS. These safeguards include <br />reclaiming the sites by stockpiling topsoil, recontouring to conform to the <br />appearance of undisturbed lands, and erosion control measures. These <br />particular borrow areas do not support prairie dogs. <br /> <br />Although the Price and Stubb Ditches were not included in the Grand Valley <br />Unit Stage Two Development FEIS, the FWS has agreed with a "no effect" <br />determination for the Unit for endangered species (Fish and Wildlife <br />Service, 1983) and have updated this conclusion for the Price and Stubb <br />Ditch proposals (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1990). <br /> <br />Air Qualitv and Noise <br /> <br />Present Conditions <br /> <br />Air Oualitv.--Air quality within the proposed project area is presumed <br />good, although no comprehensive data are available. The most common air <br />quality parameter of concern in Reclamation projects of the proposed type <br />is total suspended particulates (TSP). <br /> <br />29 <br />