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1 <br />1 <br />2 <br />' Background <br /> Cooley Gravel Company requested in January 1972 that Thorne Ecological <br /> Institute analyze the potential impacts on environment of their Morrison <br />' Quarry. The study got underway in June, 1972 with five objectives: <br />' 1. Identify the important environmental values present on the area <br />that are likely to be affected by the operation. <br /> 2. Determine the impacts that the operation will likely have on <br /> the environmental resources. <br /> 3. Review Company plans and offer suggestions for minimizing <br />' environmental damages. <br /> 4. Provide a rehabilitation plan for the disturbed and altered <br />' areas. <br /> 5. Provide suggestions for ultimate use. <br /> A team of eight investigators and two consulting firms contributed to the <br /> analyses and report dated November 1972. A follow-up report on the quality <br /> of Strain Gulch water was completed July 13, 1973. <br /> Thorne Ecological Institute re-examined the operation in 1973 and 1974 to <br /> monitor the Company's progress in carrying out recommendations and to identi- <br /> fy any potential new threats to the environment. Reports of those examina- <br />t tions are dated July 9, 1973 and August 28, 1974. <br /> Environmental Factors <br />' In 1972 we made a preliminary evaluation of environmental factors to be <br /> studied. Three factors were selected for detailed study. They were selected <br /> because they were likely to be affected strongly, because they had either <br />' important ecological significance or potential off-site significance and <br /> because the detrimental impacts might be reduced by corrective measures. <br /> The three factors were water, vegetation and scenics. Possible impacts on <br /> important wildlife species were evaluated with vegetation. <br /> Other important potential impacts were omitted from our studies as they <br /> were studied by other consultants. These included geology, effects of <br />' blasting, noise, fugitive dust and traffic. <br /> Potential Impacts of the Operation <br /> <br /> Water <br /> Three water parameters were investigated: water yield, flood flows and <br />' water quality. <br />' Water yield from Strain Gulch has little significance under normal condi- <br />tions <br />As long as drainage is provided throu <br />uarr <br />h the <br />area the o <br />eration <br /> . <br />y <br />g <br />q <br />p <br />1 <br />