| OCR Text |
Show Through consultation with Federal and State biologists, restoration procedures would be designed to produce wildlife habitat. On the other hand, vegetation along roads would be provided by nonpalatable grasses and shrubs so as to discourage creation of traffic hazards with grazing animals. Settling ponds designed to reduce the turbidity of streams during construction would be utilized on Rock Creek, Currant Creek, Provo River, and all other streams where bank disturbances would be expected to cause siltation. Ponds constructed on the Strawberry River below Soldier Creek Dam proved to be effective in minimizing turbidity. Where possible, waste material from tunnels ( the inlet portal of Stillwater Tunnel and the outlet portal of Vat Tunnel) would be disposed of in reservoir basins below the level of maximum drawdown. An exception to this would be the proposed use of spoil from Vat Tunnel to create shoal areas in Currant Creek Reservoir that would be expected to be conducive to development of benthic populations of aquatic invertebrates. This type of waste disposal would prevent the adverse esthetic impacts that would occur from land disposal of tunnel wastes. Spoil from the outlet portal of Stillwater Tunnel, inlet portal of Vat Tunnel, and from both portals of the other tunnels would be deposited in local ravines and depressions. It is anticipated that successful restoration of spoil piles would be very difficult and it is intended to experiment with various treatments until reasonable success had been achieved. In connection with Item 3_. above, Stillwater Tunnel has been selected for experimental tunneling to test some of the latest concepts in tunnel excavation under the Bureau's $ 5 million Research Program for Rapid Underground Construction. Under this program it is intended to include experimental work involving landscape restoration. Revegetation schemes, including use of native species, would be emphasized. Land disturbances associated with the aqueduct system, canals, and conduits would be treated in the manner already described. Trenches would be backfilled, compacted, and revegetated. 463 |
