OCR Text |
Show Other clearing would be permanent or near permanent and therefore much more critical to this analysis. Borrow areas would be a factor of concern. An exact estimate of the acreages involved as borrow areas is not available as depth and quality of a deposit and the amounts available in areas to be inundated would all affect the final acreages required. It would be anticipated that borrow areas that would not be inundated would total several hundred acres. The 20,000 acres of land which would be inundated support native vegetation and some cultivated crops and pasture. New road construction and road relocation would represent a long- term use of about 1,500 acres of land which at present supports vegetation. Unit road work would consist of about 129 miles. About 87 miles of this amount would be major clearing. The proposed Unit plan calls for irrigation of about 30,000 acres of new farm land. This land would be cleared of its native vegetation and dry land grain and replaced with irrigated crops. Included in the 30,000 acres would be about 7,000 acres of marshland located in the Provo Bay, which would be diked and drained. Fish Construction of features on waterways would have short- term impacts of fishery habitat. These impacts would be in the form of diversion of streams around the construction sites and also some siltation of the streams during construction. Construction specifications would be formulated to ensure minimization of siltation of streams. Settling ponds would be constructed to settle out the silt where appropriate. The proposed diversion of water from Unit streams for irrigation and municipal purposes would constitute a long- term commitment of this resource and would significantly diminish stream fish habitat. The conversion of free- flowing streams to reservoirs and low or intermittent flowing streams would be part of a long- term trend in Utah which started with the arrival of the first pioneers. This trend has continued until at present free- flowing streams which provide good sport fishery habitat are considered a scarce resource in the State. Implementation of the Bonneville Unit would result in inundation of about 39 miles and a reduction of flows in approximately 151 miles of streams containing fisheries classified as Class I through in. The reservoirs which would be formed with the Unit would provide an additional surface area of 20,000 acres. Three of these reservoirs- Upper Stillwater, Hayes, and Lampton-- would have extensive drawdown and would provide fisheries mainly on a put- and- take basis. All of the reservoirs, except Mona Reservoir, would support cold- water species of game fish-- primarily trout. However, trout populations 477 |