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CHAPTER FOUR CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCES Existing policies, procedures, and regulations would provide for the protection, preservation and enhancement of sites from authorized projects. Effects from other dispersed activities, and nature, are not subject to standard operating procedures, thus these effects would not be mitigated and preventative or corrective actions would not be implemented. Increased visitor use could result in some increase in vandalism, theft, and destruction of sites. These impacts would be reduced by interpretation and education. IMPACTS ON RIGHTS-OF-WAY IMPACTS FROM PROPOSED MANAGEMENT ACTIONS Impacts from R1ghts..,C-Way and Corridor Management. Designation of 63,863 acres of rights- of-way exclusion areas and 129,144 acres as rights-of- way avoidance areas would result in additional costs to utility companies in planning, designing, and constructing facilities around these areas. Seasonal restrictions on rights-of-way construction could increase the proponent's costs. CUMULATIVE IMPACTS ON RIGHTS-OF-WAY Designating 193,007 acres of public land as eitber rights-of-way exclusion or avoidance areas, and restricting construction seasonally would increase development costs. SHORT- TERM USE V5. LONG- TERM PRODUCTIVITY SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES Mineral development would potentially result in some increases in long-term erosion and sediment yields and possibly some decrease in the quality of surface waters from mine discharge and spoil pile runoff. Some loss in soil productivity would be expected in areas where surface disturbing activities are proposed. Uplands and riparian zones proposed for intensive livestock and wildlife management would experience improved soil and water resource conditions. RIPARIAN ZONES Implementing IGMCs and changes in livestock grazing utilization would result in long-term improvement in riparian vegetation conditions. WILDLIFE HABITAT Big game, upland bird, and non-game habitat would be improved under this alternative. Colorado Division of Wildlife long-term herd goals for elk and deer, on public lands, would be achieved. A marked improvement in fIShery streams would be realized primarily due to the reduction of total forage utilization in riparian areas. LIVESTOCK GRAZING Restrictions on livestock grazing would reduce carrying capacities and would result in long-term e1imination of some livestock forage allocations from total preference. IRREVERSIBLE OR IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENTS OF RESOURCES MINERALS Once a particular area has been committed to a single, non-mineral use, it is not likely that the use would be reversed. Tbus, mineral deposits within tbese areas would be irreversibly committed to not being developed and would be unavailable. SOIL AND WATER RESOURCES The loss of soil through wind and water erosion would be irretrievable. VISUAL RESOURCES Construction of permanent structures such as roads, buildings, and powerlines would result in an irretrievable reduction and loss of scenic quality. 4-54