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Show on land use within the impoundment area prior to the dam construction. Table 1 identifies and categorizes some possible problems associated with the major societal uses of the water resource system of Great Salt Lake. For example, the existing railroad causeway across the lake was constructed to accommodate transportation, but the structure is causing some concern to a portion of the mineral extraction industry. Table 1 does not assign priorities to either social uses or to the problems which result from system modification and use. One management objective is to manipulate the system so as to obtain an optimal " mix" of a broad range of uses in terms of the objectives and goals of the using society as a whole. For this reason, a system plan* ner is primarily interested in identifying, and obviating if possible, areas of major negative impact. The problems associated with these major impact areas are those which are most pressing in terms of system management. In Table 2 an attempt is made to assign relative magnitudes to those areas of impact which are identified by the fourth column of Table 1. Across the top of Table 2 are listed possible changes in the water resource system of Great Salt Lake which might cause some degree of environmental impact. On the left side of the table existing characteristics and conditions of the entire system are listed. Beneath each proposed action a diagonal slash is made opposite each existing condition for which a significant impact by the particular proposed action might be possible. The relative magnitude of the impact is indicated by a number between 1 and 10, and which is situated above the diagonal slash, with 1 indicating minimal impact and 10 an impact of considerable magnitude. The relative social importance of the impact is indicated by a number ( also between 1 and 10) which is situated beneath the slash. Thus, for example, a designation of 10/ 2 suggests an impact of considerable magnitude but of rather low social importance. An example of such an impact is presented under Item II. A. c. and opposite Item I. B. 2.& Although the magnitude of the impact of transbasin diversions on benthic ( channel bottom) organisms is apt to be considerable, the social importance of this impact is likely to be minimal. No attempt is made in Table 2 to distinguish between positive and negative impacts. Frequently, a particular action might produce both positive and negative impacts on the same general condition. For example, a transbasin diversion might have negative impacts on fishing in the source channel, whereas in the receiving channel the impacts might well be positive. Table 2 is helpful in the development of a management model for the lake system because it assists in defining critical areas of potential environmental impact ( and therefore of potential problems) from the standpoint of both magnitude and importance. In this way, insight is increased concerning the kinds of problems which the model should be designed to solve. For example, the table indicates that the construction of dikes and causeways is capable of producing major impacts in terms of both magnitude and importance on the use areas of recreation and tourism, mineral extraction, water transportation, brine shrimp harvesting, and fresh water supplies. On the basis of this analysis a model which is capable of quantitatively evaluating the specific effects of proposed dykes and causeways at particular locations within the lake clearly is needed. On the basis of an impact analysis provided by Tables 1 and 2, the model development process under the USU project will emphasize initially an ability to examine management problems associated with possible actions in the following areas of activity: Lake watershed subsystem 1. Weather modification. 2. Transbasin diversions. 3. Construction and operation of dams and reservoirs. 4. Land use practices, including: a. Farming, ranching, and feed lot operations. b. Urbanization, including municipal and industrial sewage outflows. Near- shore and lake subsystems 1. Changes associated with recreation and tour-' ism, including buildings and offshore structures. 2. The construction of dikes and causeways within the lake. 3. The development of impoundments within the lake, such as reservoirs for mineral extraction activities and those for fresh water storage. 4. Well drilling activities, particularly oil well development. 5. Changes resulting from industrial operations adjacent to and in the lake, such as mineral extraction and other mining operations. 24 |