AllAmerican Canal Lining Project

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All-American Canal Lining Project

• Water Conservation Impacts on the Environment

Presented by Vikki Dee Bradshaw Imperial
Irrigation District
Prepared by Michel D. Remington Imperial
Irrigation District
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The Project
2005
1937

• Construct a 23-mile long concrete canal parallel
  to the existing All-American Canal (AAC)
• Conserve up to 67,700 acre/feet of Colorado River
  Water for transfer from agricultural to urban use
• Mitigate for all environmental impacts of the
  Project

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Eastern Portion of Lining Project
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Central Portion of Lining Project
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Western Portion of Lining Project
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Environmental Impacts

• Wetland Habitat
• Loss of 99 acres of scattered
• riparian vegetation
• Loss of 1 acre of marsh vegetation
• Loss of 24 acres of canal bank
• vegetation

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Environmental Impacts

• Terrestrial Habitat and Species
• Wildlife
• Flat-tailed Horned Lizard
• Colorado Fringe-toed Lizard

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Environmental Impacts

• Terrestrial Habitat and Species
• Plants
• Peirsons Milk-vetch
• Algodones Dune Sunflower
• Giant Spanish Needle
• Wiggins Croton
• Sand Food

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Environmental Mitigation

• Terrestrial Habitat and Species
• Mitigation for Dune Plants
• Dune Habitat Restoration Area within old portion
  of abandoned All-American Canal
• Seed collection and storage for future
  distribution within spoil area and Dune Habitat
  Restoration Area

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Environmental Impacts

• Terrestrial Habitat and Species
• Large mammals
• Mule deer
• Illegal aliens

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Environmental Mitigation
Deer Tracking Plot

• Terrestrial Habitat and Species
• Mule Deer
• Conduct large mammal surveys for 1 year
  pre-construction and 2-years post-construction
• Illegal aliens
• Construct escape ladders within new canal and
  floating buoy lines upstream of all Drop
  structures
• Install English/Spanish warning signs

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Environmental Impacts

• Aquatic Species
• Canal Fishery
• Loss of 96,000 fish due to loss of approximately
  356 acres of fish habitat
• Razorback sucker
• Loss of entrained individuals during canal
  dewatering and water diversion into new canal

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Environmental Mitigation

• Aquatic Species Mitigation
• Canal Fishery
• Monetary endowment (835,000.00) for purchase of
  irrigation water for State Wildlife Refuges in
  Imperial Valley
• Razorback sucker
• Districts Triploid Grass Carp Hatchery staff
  will collect stranded razorback suckers during
  canal dewatering, record biological data, PIT tag
  fish, transport and restock into the Colorado
  River

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Environmental Impact Mitigation

• Cultural Resources
• Conduct Class III Cultural Resource surveys of
  full right-of-way and submit results to the State
  Historic Preserevation Office
• Reclamation to consult with Native American
  tribes
• Develop and implement Recovery and Discovery
  Plans
• Have Cultural Resource monitor on site during
  construction

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Environmental Impact Mitigation

• Recreation, Transpor-tation and Public safety
• Develop Recreation and Transportation plan to
  ensure public and construction crew safety during
  construction within the Project site.

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How this Project Affects Your Use of Or Access to
the Imperial Dunes Area

• Numerous site access and travel measures have
  been incorporated into the project to minimize
  access to and delays in reaching your
  destinations
• The recreation and traffic management goals of
  this project are to
• Avoid cutting off access to popular recreation
  and camping areas during the popular use season
  (October 1 through May 31)
• Minimize construction and visitor traffic
  conflicts
• Provide alternative access routes to use areas
  when construction activities make normal access
  temporarily dangerous to public safety

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These Measures Should Minimize Your Inconvenience
and Ensure Your Use of the Sand Dunes Area

• Construction activities and traffic will be
  suspended during the major holiday periods.
• Construction activities and equipment traffic
  will be significantly reduced during weekends.
• All establishing camping areas will remain open
  and construction worker use will be managed.
• Information kiosks will be setup and bulletins
  will be distributed to keep you advised of the
  latest construction details and areas.
• Bridge access to Dune Buggy Flats, Test Hill, and
  Buttercup Valley will be maintained.
• Detours around construction will be provided when
  construction temporarily poses a public safety
  risk.
• Delays and detours will be kept to a minimum.