OCR Text |
Show and if properly managed would almost double the productive capacity of the area. ^ The reservoir would have surcharge storage capacity which would be used for flood control. There are several farms downstream from the damsite which would be benefitted if severe annual flooding were eliminated. The reservoir would inundate 65 acres of cropland, 40 acres of irrigated pasture, and about 475 acres of rangeland which support native grass, sagebrush, juniper and pinion. The area presently provides habitat for deer and upland game and grazing for livestock. Estimated loss of cattle grazing is 50 AUM's. Also inundated would be one farmstead site. Approximately 2.5 miles of Brush Creek would be inundated by the reservoir. The 2- mile section from the dam to the confluence of Big and Little Brush Creeks would be dewatered, except for seepage, during the winter months. Some of the aquatic biota of this reach of stream would be lost. The rank plant growth found along the stream would also be altered. The reach of stream through the reservoir and down to the confluence has been rated by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as a Class III fishery, below the confluence with Little Brush Creek it is Class IV. Seepage past the dam may reduce the impact of reduced flows somewhat, depending on the amount of water lost. Below the confluence sufficient flows would be in the stream to maintain the stream and bank communities. The proposed plan for this Unit does not include a minimum release below Tyzack Reservoir. The fishing down to the confluence of Little Brush Creek is maintained principally on a put- and- take basis. Brigham Young University is currently conducting a study of this Unit area which will provide an inventory of the biota found there from which a more detailed analysis of the environmental impacts can be presented. Tyzack Reservoir would inundate a portion of a county road. This road would be relocated to the north around the reservoir and would require approximately 4 miles of construction. It would follow an existing road approximately 2 miles. The remaining 2 miles would traverse an area previously undisturbed. Using the ratio 5 acres of clearing per mile of road, ° approximately 10 acres of land would be altered from its existing condition. Water would be pumped from Green River near Jensen through pipe buried under cultivated land, to 414 |