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I I I I .1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 3471 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT The Homestake Phase II Project is located in central Colorado, primarily in Eagle County; however, direct project effects are also expected to extend into Pitkin and Lake Counties. The majority of the project facilities will be located within the White River National Forest. Water is proposed to be diverted primarily from the Cross Creek and Fall Creek drainages, with downstream effects on the Eagle and Colorado. River. The principal communities near the project area are Minturn, Red Cliff, Gilman, Leadville, and Vail. The project area is along the Continental Divide at elevations ranging from about 8,000 feet to over 14,000 feet. The climate is dominated by dry, cool, continental air masses and is strongly affected by the rugged mountainous topography. Air quality is excellent. The major topographic features of the project area are steeply sloping valley walls rimmed by alpine ridges. The only known metalliferous deposits in the project area are gold, silver, copper, and lead. Sand and gravel deposits in the Homestake Valley may present significant recoverable resources, depending on further inventory. Three major soil associations are likely to occur in the project area, and none are anticipated to be highly erosive or to have revegetation or stability limitations. The Project Area is drained by three principal stream systems, Homestake, Cross, and Fall Creeks, and several minor streams, including Peterson Creek. All streams in the Project Area discharge into the Eagle River which is tributary to the Colorado River at Dotsero. Streamflows in the area are typical of high altitude, snow dominated basins. The Fall and Cross Creek basins yield very high quality water that easily meets all state standards. The water quality of lower Cross Creek and the Eagle River below Cross Creek is degraded due to seepage from New Jersey Zinc Company tailings ponds. Nine vegetative community types would be affected by one or more of the components of project alternatives. The Englemann spruce- subalpine fir community is present at most alternative facility locations and would be most directly affected by facility construction. No threatened or endangered plant species are known to occur in areas affected by Homestake Phase II project alternatives. The predominant wetland in the Cross and Fall Creek drainages is the willow-sedge riparian community located within the floodplain adjacent to intermittent and perennial streams. Two especially important wildlife habitat types occur in areas affected by project alternatives: wetlands and big game winter range. Two federally listed endangered terrestrial species, bald eagle and peregrine falcon, may potentially occur in areas affected by the proposed diversion project. Cross Creek contains brook trout and Colorado River (C. R.) cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki pleuriticus); some rainbow trout have been introduced in the past. Brook trout occupy Fall Creek from below the proposed diversion site to its mouth. The Colorado River contains the federal and state endangered Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila .9'E.!:J.e), bony tail chub (Gila elegans), and the state-threatened razorback (humpback) sucker 0<Yrauchen texanus). Recreational use of the area consists of both facility-based activities such as automobile camping and picnicing in designated areas, and dispersed activities such as fishing, hiking, and backpacking. 14