SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 5 – Environmental Consequences• Improvements to Academy Boulevard north of the installation.• Improvements to SH 115 west of the installation.• Various ongoing construction projects on the installation.• Development of lands throughout the Pikes Peak region and greater Colorado Springs area.• Bureau of Reclamation Southern Delivery System - proposal to construct new water storagereservoirs and an extensive network of delivery piping.• Reconstruction of Powers Boulevard to a freeway with interchanges to enhance traffic movementaround the eastern side of Colorado Springs.• Future improvements to the roadway network to improve capacity on Drennan Road and PowersBoulevard to provide a more direct connection between I-25 and the airport.• Future improvements to the roadway network to Banning-Lewis Ranch developments, and otherfeatures on the east and south sides of Colorado Springs.• Future foreseeable improvements to SH 115 along the western boundary of the post.In contrast, no reasonably foreseeable future actions have been identified near PCMS. A primaryreason for the absence of potentially cumulative actions is that this area is rural in nature and does nothave existing infrastructure to support other types of development. Although, there is potential forfuture wind power projects in Las Animas County, no specific development plans are underconsideration. In Otero County, no substantial projects have been planned or approved according tothe Otero County Engineering Department (USACE 2007b).5.6.3.1 Geology, Soils, and SeismicityAlternative C is likely to contribute to cumulative impacts to soils from erosion. The major historicinfluences on soil erosion include the disturbance of soils, modification of slopes and drainagefeatures, and loss or disturbance of vegetation due to agricultural conversion, military activities, fires,roads, modification of slopes and drainage features, and other development.Planned construction activities at and near FTC sponsored by federal, state, local agencies or privateentities would contribute to increased short-term regional soil erosion and runoff potential fromconstruction, training, equipment operations, and vehicle travel. Construction projects generateincreased short-term erosion potential from areas of bare ground and wind eroded fugitive dust fromsite clearing and grading. Projects that, along with the Alternative C, could contribute to cumulativesoil erosion effects include improving Powers Boulevard/SH 16 and the I-25 interchange east of theinstallation; improving Academy Boulevard north of the installation; improving SH 115 west of theinstallation; and various ongoing construction projects on the installation.The area surrounding the PCMS has historically been primarily undeveloped and used for agricultureparticularly large grazing operations. These activities have disturbed natural areas and contributed tosoil erosion to some extent. The only planned development in the area consists of 14 individualhomes located throughout Otero County.Soil erosion caused by implementation of Alternative C and other reasonably foreseeable futureprojects can be mitigated with BMPs for stormwater management and runoff control. However,maintaining a persistent vegetative cover in areas of intensive use or development would not bepossible because of the nature of the proposed use. Therefore, soil erosion impacts associated withSBCT training proposed under Alternative C are expected to be locally and cumulatively significant.The contribution of wind soil erosion from training ranges at FTC and PCMS to cumulative soil lossor sedimentation in the Fountain Creek and Purgatoire River watersheds, for example, is expected toFebruary 2008 5-268 2/25th SBCT Final EIS