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Show F. SHORT- AND LONG- TERM ENVIRONMENTAL USES In this section is discussed the relationship between the local short- term uses of the environment which would result during construction and development of the Unit and the long- term and more widespread impacts from Unit operation. The expected life of the Unit features would be 100 years. In the April 23, 1971, C. E. Q. Guidelines, each sponsoring agency is also directed to assess the proposed action " for cumulative and long- term effects from the perspective that each generation is trustee of the environment for succeeding generations." Water resource planning requires a long- range forecast. The Bonneville Unit would be a complex multipurpose project which would attempt to partially respond to present and future needs for irrigation, municipal and industrial supply, and hydroelectric power production. In meeting these needs, benefits would also be provided for recreation, fish and wildlife, flood control, water quality control, and area redevelopment. The relation between immediate and future environmental impacts from project construction and development are summarized in this section. 1. Geology and Seismicity Minor earth slides could be expected to occur as a result of construction excavation and from saturation of the reservoir banks. The slide potential would not be expected to present a major hazard to life or property and should not diminish the use of the area. Hazard of earthquake is a fact of life in the Wasatch Front area because of the active Wasatch Fault where earthquake activity has occurred more persistently than in areas east of this zone. Earthquake hazard would be remote in other areas of the Unit. Land settlement through subsurface saturation around the reservoirs would be another possibility that should be recognized. 2. Vegetation Construction and implementation of the Bonneville Unit would require the removal of an estimated 23,000 acres of native and cultivated vegetation for reservoirs and roads. Of this amount, about 20,000 acres would be for reservoirs and 3,000 acres would be for roads and other uses. This removal would be both short- and long- term in nature. Construction camps, temporary access roads, and activities would all require removal of vegetation. Most of these clearings would be temporary in nature as they would be seeded to appropriate vegetation once construction had been completed. 476 |