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<br />acceptance of such an alternative is unlikely, Preliminary study of <br />this proposal showed costs to exceed benefits and further evaluations <br />were not made. <br /> <br />Two alternative plans were evaluated. The first plan, Alternative 1, <br />minimizes structural works. The second plan, Alternative 2, includes <br />improving off-farm conveyance systems and onfarm systems, maximizes <br />irrigation efficiency and salt load reduction. This latter plan is the <br />designated environmental quality plan and provides the greatest reduction <br />in salt loading. Net economic benefits are largely derived from reduced <br />salinity, This results in the "Environmental Quality Plan" yielding the <br />highest net benefits; therefore, Alternative 2 is also identified as the <br />"Economic Development Plan," The alternatives are evaluated for a 25- <br />year project life at seven and three-eights (7-3/8) percent interest <br />after a ten year installation period. <br /> <br />The major practice in both alternative plans is improved onfarm irri- <br />gation water management. Off-farm conveyance system improvement needs <br />and proposed solutions were identified by the SCS and Clark County Con- <br />servation District in August 1978 and are used in this study. <br /> <br />The alternatives consider fish and wildlife resources. Assessment <br />of fish, wildlife and recreation resources are located in the environmental <br />appendices, The impact on the visual resource and its quality was also <br />considered. Unlined irrigation ditches presently provide some wildlife <br />habitat. Changes in irrigation management will result in minimal habitat <br />disturbance, <br /> <br />" <br /> <br />,,_., <br /> <br />, Other nonreturn flow and concentrated return flow uses of water <br />from irrigated lands were examined. Water not used for irrigation could <br />be used to develop additional wildlife habitat. However, water not used <br /> <br />for irrigation is subject to the applicable state water law prior to <br />utilization for additional wildlife habitat, <br /> <br />'<i; <br /> <br />The proposed onfarm irrigation water management program would not <br />result in land modification below plow depth and, therefore, will not <br />affect cultural resources beyond present agricultural activity. <br /> <br />Future Without Salinity Pro~ram <br /> <br />(t <br /> <br />The future without program for salinity control is based on pro- <br />jected (35-year) changes without implementation of a salinity control <br />program, Projected land use changes from agricultural to urban uses <br />is 160 acres. Some 32 acres are estimated for building lots and the <br />remainder for use as small pastures, lawns and gardens. <br /> <br />Irrigated land considered for this alternative is 3,495 acres <br />distributed as follows: 72 percent alfalfa, 26 percent pasture, and 2 <br />percent small grain, No changes in production levels or in onfarm irri- <br />ation systems would result from ongoing conservation programs, It is <br />assumed the ongoing program will be adequate to replace and maintain <br />irrigation systems at their present level, <br /> <br />41 <br /> <br />(' {J GI ., ,'~ 0 <br />-' '-" "-, \.' <br />