Correspondence on Bonneville Unit of Central Utah Project

Page 103

,*4i to some of these questions appear in this statement; however, most of them require further study to achieve adequate clarification. The Bureau Of Reclamation would respond to these quesbions and many others in eTfuture detailed environmental statement." (Underlining added.) The Forest Service suggested the relocation of the proposed Dyne Power-plant from the very narrow, restricted Diamond Fork Canyon to the adjacent Sixth Water Canyon, where more area is available and less environmental impacts would occur. Planned power operation has a twice-daily peak of waterflows in the stream below__the_proposiTd powerplant. This means peak flows "Tn Diamond~Fork below~l:he~Dyne Powerplant of over 400 c.f.s. would occur twice daily. Peak flows would create a safety hazard to the people using the three presently developed campgrounds in Diamond Fork and would degrade the stream channel. A suggested alterna­tive is to increase the size of the Wasatch Aqueduct between Dyne Power-plant and Hayes Reservoir. This could provide more stable flows in Diamond Fork, lessen channel and fishery habitat damage, greatly reduce safety Tiazards to the public, and"may provide power head for another powerplant at Hayes Reservoir. *~~ ~~ " ': ~~r: These questions should be answered by this Final Environmental Statement ) arid not delayed for piecemeal answers at some future time. ] • WILDERNESS *' -A- " . -. - The statement on page 223 quotes the Forest Service "...that Upper Stillwater would be immediately adjacent to the High Uintas Primitive "J Area." All e>f~ our comments to the Bureau of Reclamation show~that part 7fc{ of ^fche reservoir will be "inside" the primitive area. Any clearing for _y_ • I this reservoir inside the primitive area will require Presidential r? approval unless"the area is classifiedTas wilderness prior to construction, along the lines contained in the proposal now before Congress.. This letter has not gone into great detail in expressing our concerns. Obviously, the problems are far too complex to be resolved in this manner. We understand the Cojancil on Environmental Quality is also con­cerned with this proposal. We suggest a joint meeting with Bureau of A * - Reclamation, CEQ, and Forest Service representatives prior to any action on the project. At such a meeting, we would propose going into more detail in an effort to reach a better base of understanding, and to resolve some of the existing conflicts. /") y -/-/ * . ••/- <-/ -/-»' Vx '" ^ -• "'•"-;;"' '^-' '• ' "X ' - » L JOHN R. McGUIRE Chief '0