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Show man- days lost in the Uinta Basin would probably be adequately mitigated with the development of Indian lands along the Duchesne River which has not yet been evaluated. ( Refer to Section D). Table C- 27 shows the relationship of the presently unavoidable adverse impacts of the Unit upon the Statewide hunting situation. Under Unit conditions there would be a Statewide loss of 0.1 percent of the mule deer hunting, a loss of 1.6 percent of the sage grouse hunting, and 5.5 percent of the waterfowl hunting. This comparison indicates that the adverse impacts are primarily local in significance. Other unavoidable adverse impacts concerning recreation would be the inundation of an 8- family primitive campground site and part of the Rock Creek Trail by Upper Stillwater Reservoir and the disruption of Forest Service plans for recreational development that could result from the safety hazard created by the proposed operating schedule of the Diamond Fork Power System. Esthetics It is difficult to present an objective summary of the unavoidable adverse impacts associated with esthetics because interpretation of what is and what is not beautiful is usually a subjective matter depending upon the tastes and judgments of observers. The fact that esthetics often involve intangibles further compounds the problem. It is also important to note that some changes in the natural environment can be attractive even though they are foreign to the natural scene. Under the proposed Unit plan the following impacts would be considered to be adverse and unavoidable: a. Some permanent scars would remain on disturbed areas after application of restoration measures. It is too early to evaluate the success of recently treated areas and some areas associated with completed features have not yet been treated. However, it is reasonable to assume that after restoration, permanent landscape disturbance would remain on several hundred acres of land throughout the Bonneville Unit area. Most of this disturbance would be concerned with steep cuts and fill areas, borrow excavations, and tunnel spoil piles. b. With the exception of Currant Creek, Bottle Hollow, and Lower Stillwater, drawdown on reservoirs would periodically expose unattractive and often unvegetated bottom substrate, which would detract from the esthetic value of the landscape. This problem would be most serious on Upper Stillwater, Hayes, and Lampton Reservoirs where there would be significant annual drawdown. Where the drawdown would be extended over a period of several years the esthetic problem would not be as serious. 473 |