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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 34Gt PURPOSE AND NEED This Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DE IS) has been prepared by the Forest Service in response to an application by the Cities of Colorado Springs and Aurora to construct Phase II of the Homestake trans-mountain water diversion system. An application for an easement has been applied for in accordance with the Forest Service's regulations implementing the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA, 43 U.S.C. 1761-1771). For detailed information concerning Forest Service authorizing regulations refer to 36 CFR 251 (1980). The Cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs have both experienced rapid growth as a direct result of new employment, tourism, and the attractiveness of their locations. During the past decade, annual population growth has approached 10 percent in both locations. The Cities are currently projecting a conservative 3 to 4 percent growth in the years of 1982 to 1995. Even with the conservative growth estimates, the Cities will not be able to meet their anticipated municipal, residentiai, commercial, and industrial water needs without additional water supplies. The Cities forecast that demand will exceed existing water supply around 1994. To provide for contingencies, the Cities wish to have additional water supplies available at least two years before demand requires it, i.e., in late 1991 to early 1992. In 1962, the Cities were decreed numerous water rights in the upper Eagle River basin for diversion by the Homestake Project. The project was initially planned as two separate diversion systems, with Phase I to be located primarily in the Homestake drainage, and Phase II located in the Cross Creek area. Phase i of the Homestake Project was completed in 1967. It consists of diversions on French Creek, Fancy Creek, Missouri Creek, and Sopris Creek, the Fancy-French conduit, the Missouri tunnel, Homestake reservoir, and the Homestake tunnel, which conveys water to Turquoise Lake. These facilities are shown in Figure 2-1. Homestake Phase I currently diverts 28,000 acre-feet of water per year from the Homestake Creek area and was built to accomodate additional water to be delivered to the system by Homestake Phase II. The Homestake Phase II Project is located in central Colorado, primarily in Eagle County i however, direct project effects could extend into Pitkin, Grand, Summit, and Lake Counties (see Figures 2-4 and 1-2). The majority of the project facilities may 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 Rivers. The principal communities near the project area are Minturn, Red Cliff, Gilman, Leadville, and Vail. As currently submitted, Phase II would not utilize all of the Cities remaining water rights. Additional diversion facilities may be proposed at a later date to utilize these rights. The Phase II expansion has created considerable controversy in that it proposes to construct diversion facilities within the Holy Cross Wilderness as established under Public Law 96-560 on December 22, 1980. Section (5) of this law states the following in regards to Homestake water diversions: 1 '.