Lake Pueblo State Park and Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area Resource Management Plan
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Lake Pueblo State Park and Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area Resource Management Plan Draft Environmental Assessment Project 2015-025 Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado Eastern Colorado Area Office, Great Plains Region in cooperation with: Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife Southeast Region U.S. Department of Interior April 2020 Mission Statements The Department of the Interior (DOI) conserves and manages the Nation’s natural resources and cultural heritage for the benefit and enjoyment of the American people, provides scientific and other information about natural resources and natural hazards to address societal challenges and create opportunities for the American people, and honors the Nation’s trust responsibilities or special commitments to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and affiliated island communities to help them prosper. The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1-PURPOSE AND NEED .................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION ............................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 PURPOSE & NEED ................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.4 AUTHORITY FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLANS ........................................................................................ 2 CHAPTER 2-RMP DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................... 3 2.1 PUEBLO RESERVOIR & FRYINGPAN-ARKANSAS PROJECT .............................................................................. 3 2.2 DESCRIPTION OF RMP PLANNING AREA .......................................................................................................... 3 2.2.1 CPW Lands Not Included in the RMP Planning Area .................................................................................... 5 2.3 GENERAL SETTING ............................................................................................................................................... 5 2.4 PRIOR PLANNING DOCUMENTS .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.5 LAKE PUEBLO STATE PARK & SWA ACCESS .................................................................................................... 6 2.6 EXISTING RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES ..................................................................................................... 7 2.7 RMP PLANNING AREA MANAGEMENT UNITS ................................................................................................. 7 2.8 RMP PLANNING AREA VISITATION TRENDS ................................................................................................... 8 CHAPTER 3-ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................. 8 3.1 PUBLIC SCOPING ................................................................................................................................................... 8 3.2 RESOURCE MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. 8 3.3 RECREATION AND VISITOR SERVICES ................................................................................................................ 9 3.4 ALTERNATIVE MATRIX......................................................................................................................................... 9 3.5 PROPOSED ACTION-RMP .................................................................................................................................... 9 3.6 NO ACTION ALTERNATIVE .............................................................................................................................. 10 3.6.1 Proposed Management Actions Considered but Eliminated .............................................................................. 10 3.7 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES ..................................................................................................................... 13 3.8 RESOURCE AND IMPACTS SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... 14 CHAPTER 4-AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ................................................................................................................................................. 15 4.1 APPROACH TO THE ANALYSIS .......................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 REASONABLY FORESEEABLE FUTURE ACTIONS............................................................................................ 20 4.3 PALEONTOLOGICAL RESOURCES ..................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 20 4.3.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 21 Cumulative Impacts .................................................................................................................................................. 21 4.4 SOILS RESOURCES............................................................................................................................................... 22 4.4.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 22 4.4.2 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES ............................................................................................................. 24 4.5 WATER RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................... 27 4.5.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4.5.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 29 4.6 WATER QUALITY ................................................................................................................................................ 29 4.6.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 29 4.6.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 30 4.7 VEGETATION RESOURCES ................................................................................................................................ 32 4.7.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 32 4.7.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 40 4.8 AQUATIC AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES ............................................................................................................ 44 4.8.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 44 4.8.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 48 4.9 CULTURAL AND HISTORIC RESOURCES........................................................................................................... 50 4.9.1 Affected Environment ..................................................................................................................................... 50 4.9.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................... 52 4.10 TRAVEL MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................................................. 54 4.10.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................................... 54 4.10.2 Environmental Consequences ........................................................................................................................ 57 4.11 SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ............................................................ 58 4.11.1 Affected Environment ................................................................................................................................... 58 4.11.2 Environmental Consequences .......................................................................................................................