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0:;,-.~~~ . -'". .... ~ \J IMPACTS ON SALEABLE MINERALS IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from Saleable Minerals Management. Permitting the disposal of saleable mineral materials on 720,881 acres of federal mineral estate would more than satisfy the current demand of 12,500 cubic yards annually and meet the anticipated future demand. IMPACTS ON SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from Soil and Water Resources Management. Continuing the implementation of the "Long Gulch Sediment Control and Riparian Habitat Improvement Project" would result in downstream sediment yields being reduced by up to 300 tons per year, increased vegetation production for watershed protection, improvement of the hydrologic functions of riparian zones by raising the alluvial water table, and some downstream flood control benefits by reducing peak flows from runoff events. Implementing erosion control projects that are designed to increase plant basal cover on uplands would indirectly result in improved watershed conditions. Securing minimum stream flows would protect water quality and hydrologic functions of adjacent riparian areas. Impacts lrom Locatable Minerals Management. If mineral development occurs on 7ll!.,567 acres in the Planning Area identified as open to mineral entry and location, increased sedimentation and physical damage to stream beds or banks could potentially result. These impacts would most likely occur somewhere within the 110,528 acres that have a high likelihood for the occurrence of locatable minerals. Physical disturbance to stream channels and increases in sedimentation would be greatest from placer mining operations. Heavy metal contamination of surface water is possible from mine water discharges and ALTERNATIVE C IMPACTS spoil-pile runoff. Heavy metal pollution is usually associated with mine drainage resulting from the oxidation of pyrite. The highest potential for this situation to occur is on 1,200 acres near Iris and Midway. Underground mining operation could create the potential for ground water aquifer dewatering and mixing of water from different aquifers, diminishing both groundwater quantity and quality. Impacts from Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Management. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated from one or two wells. If any development were to occur, surface-disturbing activities such as road and drill pad construction could result in increased sediment yields. Accidental fluid discharges during drilling operations, such as produced water, could contaminate surface waters and soils. Impacts from Saleable Minerals Management. Road construction, vehicle use, and surface disturbance associated with mineral material disposal would increase erosion and sediment production, and decrease soil productivity. Operations in close proximity to perennial water courses would have the potential effect of destabilizing and altering natural stream channels and disrupting the beneficial values of floodplains. Impacts from RIparian Zones Management. Developing new water sources or modifying existing water sources to reduce concentrated forage utilization in riparian areas would result in the local hydrologic and soil conditions being improved. Impacts from Wildlife Habitat Management. Vegetation treatments, seedings and plantings designed to increase shrub densities on uplands and riparian areas would result in improved hydrologic and soil erosion conditions on these areas. Impacts from Livestock Grazing Management. Restricting total forage utiliZation, including livestock utilization, to 40.60% of the current year's growth of key forage species would stabilize and improve hydrologic and soil conditions. Implementation of IGMCs would benefit soil and water resources on uplands and riparian areas by 4-29