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Aspen Highlands Ski Area. Draft Envi,onmenJaJ Impact StalemenJ CCW. In the MCW-A hydrographic area. potential water yields would increase from 52 to 130 equivalent cleared acres (ECA) and in the MCW-B from 137 to 305 ECA. Road lengths would increase by 1.2 mile/sq mile in CCW-B. Due to higher erosion potential, in the MCW-A and MCW-B hydrographic areas, there could be an increased risk of sediment depositioo in Maroon Creek. Under Alternative C, total annual water depletion from Maroon Creek would be 2,863 acre-feet, including 138 acre-feet for snowmaking covering a total of 124 acres. The total offtake for snowmaking would be 176 acre-feet less than under Alternative B, but the rate of depletion from Maroon Creek would be the same since the snowmaking system would require the same 4.5 cfs water supply rate as under Alternative B in order to operate most efficiently. Thus snowmaking cunailment would occur at the same interval and for the same periods under both action alternatives, if the Maroon Creek pipeline continues to be the main source of water for snowmaking. Compared to the No Action Altemative. the oet increase in depletions from the Roaring Fork basin would be 13 acre-feet. Compared to current conditions, water yield would increase by one percent in the MCW only. In the MCW-A hydrographic area potential water yields would remain at 52 ECA but in the MCW-B yields would increase from 137 to 160 ECA. Road lengths within these bydrographic areas would oot change relative to the No Actioo Alternative. The risk of sedimentation would be higher than under the No Actioo Alternative but less than under Alternative B. POTENTIAL MITIGATION MEASURES A drainage system capable of diverting spring runoff away from areas that are susceptible to either landsliding or erosion will be designed and constructed according to the Forest Service's BMPs. In additioo, construction- related soil and vegetation disturbance would be minimized, especially near streams, by limiting the number of roads, and by using appropriate road, drainage, and stream crossing designs and construction techniques. Roads would be constructed when soils are least susceptible to erosion, sidecast placement would occur 00 sidehills with a grade exceeding 60 percent, and disturbed areas along roads and ski ways would be stabilized and revegetated before the end of the construction season in which they are affected. VEGETATION AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Aspen Highlands analysis area is bounded by Castle Creek on the east, the Maroon Bells Wilderness on the south, Maroon Creek on the west, and Highway 82 on the north. The analysis area was used in the evaluation of the vegetation, wetlands, wildlife, and biodiversity disciplines. Within this 4,380-foot elevational range (8,000 to 12,380 feet) at Aspen Highlands, 12 vegetation or habitat cover types were identified in order to categorize the complex natural patterns that exist on the mountain, and facilitate analysis of the proposed developmeol. These vegetation!habitat types include three forested types (mixed conifer, lodgepole pine, and aspen forests) and nine non-forested types (alpine tundra, meadow/grassland, mountain brush, montane willow, talus/scree, wetland/riparian, ski trails, developed lands, and special aquatic sites). The dominant type is mixed conifer forest (33 percent of the analysis area), followed by aspen forest (16 percent) and mountain brush (14 percent). Significant ponions of the analysis area were burned-over in the mid to late 1800s, which has affected. in pan, the timber stand composition, age, and density patterns on undisturbed areas of Aspeo Highlands. There are no federally listed threatened or endangered plant species known to occur on the WRNF, although there are 13 plants which have been included on the Forest sensitive plant list for the WRNF. Most of these species occur in specialized habitats and have restricted distributions. Suitable habitat within the analysis area was identified for only one species, the brownie lady slipper (Cypripedlumfasciculatum), but no individuals of this species were found during 1995 and 1996 field surveys. 18 Section J/I Vegetalioll