Santa Fe Water diversion project Environmental Impact Statement

Santa Fe Water diversion project Environmental Impact Statement.

Prepared by Tetratech company under contract to BLM

An Environmental Impact Statement has the following components that follow the planning processes.

1. Chapter 1 - An introduction based on step1 of planning -Monitoring -

The introduction of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) documents an analysis of the effects of a proposal to divert water from the Rio Grande to meet certain near-term water supply needs as determined by monitoring the water supply in Santa Fe. drought conditions in 1996, 2000, and 2002.

A) Estimated water diversion quantities based on annual demand projections that extend to the year 2010 for the City and County, while the demand for Las Campanas is projected through community build out (1,717 homes).

B) These projections translate to approximately 8,730 acre-feet per year (ac-ft/yr), currently estimated to be 5,230 acft/yr for the City; 1,700 ac-ft/yr for the County; and 1,800 ac-ft/yr for Las Campanas.

The proposed diversion facility is sized for a combined net peak diversion of approximately 28.2 cubic feet per second (cfs), which meets the combined peak needs of the City, County, and Las Campanas.

C) The monitoring of the saturated thickness and drawdown of the Buckman Well Field results in a nonsustainable water supply for Santa FE

2. In the introduction Step 2 Determine the main characteristics of the problems and opportunities identified, , define constraints and objectives necessary to overcome the problem

          A.) Overview of Proposed Project
          B.) Decisions to Be Made
          C.) Relation to Other Plans Including Land Management Plans
           D.) Public Involvement Including Interagency Cooperation
           E.) Issues -Issues are defined as concerns for the potential effects from the proposed project
                        1. Land Use and Tenure
                         2.Water Resources
                        3. Biological Resources
                        4. Cultural Resources
                        5. Recreation and Scenic Resources
                        6. Other Resources- Traffic, Air Quality and Noise, Socioeconomics
              F) Permits and Agency Approvals Required

3. Chapter 2

Step three in planning process
Identify alternative actions to implement strategies within the defined constraints.

                A) Proposed Action and Alternatives
                        1. Alternatives Considered but Eliminated from Further Study-
                               a. Additional Ground Water Pumping
                                B. Other Surface Water Diversions
                                   c. Water Conservation
                                     d. Alternative Technologies
                                       e. No Action Alternative

Step 4 in the planning process- Appraising and evaluating the impacts of alternatives, including environmental, social and economic effects and assess uncertainty associated with the results.

In the EIS each alternative was evaluated and rejected based on analysis that was not presented in detail in the EIS. The main reason for rejecting the alternative were that they did not solve the problem of more water for the city of Santa Fe and the city of Santa Fe could not continue to pump water at the current water right level.

The city has San Juan-Chama water currently being stored down stream in Elephant Butt lake lake. The city wants to transfer pumping water for diversion water and to purchase additional water rights to the Rio Grande River and non of the alternatives would supply these additional water for use by homeowners.

Only if not additional water was available would Santa Fe consider the alternatives which would limit growth. If no water right can be purchased then Santa Fe will need to balance diversions with pumping such that offset and diversion amounts would not exceed their combined San Juan-Chama and existing native water rights.

Sep 5 . Select the proposed action. Proposed Action - construct a diversion on Rio Grande River.

The the EIS lists the different methods to implement the proposed Action. This is looking at the different type of design decision to construct a diversion dam on the Rio Grande,
separate out the sediment in the river water,
pump the water into the existing pipe network,
either return the sediment to the river or carry the sediment away by trucks.

Each component of the design has several alternative designs that have to have an evaluation of its impact on
land disturbance,
traffic change on roads,
right of ways constraints,
visual impact,
biodiversity impact
economic impact.
A preferred design is presented along with the alternatives as part of the EIS.

After public comment a design will be selected and permits acquired, then a final design and construction bid will be placed.

Public comments have already been collected.