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Show will result from recreation developments9 human disturbance and new barriers, combining to produce a total of 16,700 acres lost by en-rgement of Strawberry Reservoir, According to the E,P,A, comments regarding the environmental analysis, operation of the Bonneville Unit will produce an average annual increase of 14 mg/1 of dissolved solids concentration in the Colorado River at Lake Mead, Already, Los Angeles is receiving Colorado River water with 760 mg/1 dissolved solids, That greatly exceeds the 500 mg/1 maximum for human consumption as set by the U.S. Public Health Sendee, The economic impact of the increased salinity will amount to an average annual cost of $580,000, based on 1972 economic conditions, This amounts to $29,000,000 over the 50-year project life. Providing additional water to stimulate growth and industrialization along the Wasatch Front will further concentrate population in that area of the state which is already over-congested and polluted., Also, the removal of important water supplies from the Uinta Basin will prevent further growth and development in that area, Thus? the already overpopuiated areas will become even more degraded, and dispersion of population to rural areas will be prevented,, In addition, reservoirs such as Jordanelle will bring undesirable development, such as trailer parks, mechanized'recreation, ugly mud fiats, summer cottages, and large influxes of transients to an area which is working hard to protect its healthy, rural way of life, VII Environmental Return No compensation is planned for stream losses. The proposed release of 6,500 acre-feet for stream fisheries is highly inadequate. At least 37,000 acre-feet are necessary, Fishing will occur at all the proposed reservoirs. Some are expected to receive heavy use. Most of such fishing will occur by drawing fishermen away from already existing reservoirs since flat-water fishing is not in short supply according to the Great Basin Comprehensive report. The aesthetic wildlife and recreation values at Provo Bay and Upper Stillwater will be permanently lost. The opportunities of using Provo Bay as a green belt or wildlife sanctuary will be foregone. About 25,000 acres of water and marsh will be eliminated through diking of Provo and Goshen Bay, The growing population of bjluegill and walleye in Provo Bay will be eliminated. Such diking will drastically reduce spawning habitat of white bass and catfish. Fishery losses will not be compensated. Some waterfowl losses would be mitigated by establishment of the 14,500 acre Goshen Bay WIL However, maintenance of waterfowl habitat requires 1 CFS/ The refuge will be supplied with 5,000 A.F or 8 C.F.S., which will permit management of only 800 of the 14,500 acres. The Bureau of Reclamation has instituted a $500 million salinity control program on the Colorado River. Their projects are responsible for 37% of the increase in total dissolved solids while natural sources add 9%. No costs for these impacts are allocated to project beneficiaries. The public pays for the salinity control program, M.O.P, will not be instituted to affect prior Bonneville Unit Planning0 23 |
