Reviewing
the VWC-DEIS you'll notice a number of points worth a closer look. To
facilitate that I will use this blog for my study notes, organized into
single issue threads. Each will quote the USDA Forest Service -
Village at Wolf Creek Access Project - Draft Environmental
Impact Statement section in question.
{For clarity I have added breaks between sentences and highlights where appropriate. Wording has not been altered.}
{For clarity I have added breaks between sentences and highlights where appropriate. Wording has not been altered.}
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Draft Environmental Impact Statement - Village at Wolf Creek Access ProjectDraft Environmental Impact Statement - Village at Wolf Creek Access Project
Page 3-49 - Chapter 3. Affected Environment
3.7.5 Wetland Functions and Values
Wetlands are often described in terms of their functions and values. Functions refer to the ecological role or processes that a wetland performs. Values refer to the importance of these functions to the environment or to humans.
However, these terms are interrelated and most often the distinction between functions vs. values is not made. Wetland functions can be generally categorized into three major groups: hydrology, water quality, and habitat. Wetlands do not necessarily perform all functions nor do they perform all functions to the same degree. The location, vegetation and hydrology of a wetland often determine which functions it performs.
The major wetland functional groups which are evaluated in this document include: hydrology functions – groundwater discharge, groundwater recharge, velocity reduction, erosion protection, and floodwater retention/peak flood reduction; water quality functions – sediment removal, nutrient retention and removal; and habitat functions – wildlife habitat and uniqueness.
The qualitative assessments of wetland functions presented here are based on best professional judgment and a knowledge of the Analysis Area wetlands. In general terms, these assessments rank the effectiveness of a function by considering both the presence of a particular process as well as the opportunity for that process to occur based on the wetland type and location. These assessments consider the overall condition of wetlands relative to the other wetlands in the Analysis Area and to similar wetlands in southwestern Colorado. The assessments represent average conditions for each group of wetlands or wetland complex. A summary of the rankings is presented below in Table 3.7-
4. These rankings have been adapted from Adamus and Stockwell (1983), as presented in Cooper
(1988). Table 3.7-5 is a summary of the Analysis Area wetland functions and their rankings.
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This section needs the input of a professional {or a serious student?}.
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Dear Friends of Alberta Park and Wolf Creek,
we have this one moment to tell the Rio Grande Forest Service and the US Department of Agriculture's powers-that-be what a destructive boondoggle this luxury Village at 10,500± elevation would be.
But, they'll never listen to you, if you don't contact them!
we have this one moment to tell the Rio Grande Forest Service and the US Department of Agriculture's powers-that-be what a destructive boondoggle this luxury Village at 10,500± elevation would be.
But, they'll never listen to you, if you don't contact them!
Here's where to do that, but you need to do it now, September:
Commenting on This Project
The Forest Service values public input. Comments received, including respondents’ names and addresses, will become part of the public record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and considered; however, anonymous comments will not provide the agency with the ability to provide you with project updates. The Forest Service wishes to provide you with as many opportunities as possible to learn about our activities.
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