5.6 Relationship of Short-Term Uses and Long- Term Productivity
Short-term uses are defined as those that take place during the 10-year timeframe covered in this EIS analysis. Long-term is defined as the time period beyond the 10-year timeframe of the NTS EIS analysis. If the resource cannot be rehabilitated to its most productive long-term use within a 10-year timeframe, then it is considered in this analysis to be impaired for the long term.
5.6.1 Alternative 1
The relationship of short-term use and long-term productivity under Alternative 1 is discussed in the following sections.
5.6.1.1 Nevada Test Site
The majority of effects on long-term productivity would result from the continuation of present land use and from future land use associated with Alternative 1. Developed areas like Mercury, forward area camps, drill yards, roads, power lines, and waste disposal sites would continue to be largely unproductive ecologically, but would continue long-term contributions through their support of research and development and training. Operating waste disposal sites would contribute to long-term productivity through the remediation of other areas and their return to productive uses. The Big Explosives Experimental Facility would result in surface clearing on 30 acres, which could be remediated and made available for most uses upon cessation of operations. The Big Explosives Experimental Facility's 7,080-acre buffer area would be unavailable for human use, but the ecological productivity should remain largely intact. An underground nuclear test would result in the subsurface being unavailable for the long term. Following an underground nuclear test, the surface 40 acres could be available for limited uses unless cavity collapse has not occurred. Underground subcritical experiments would result in the mined cavity being unavailable for the long term. Following subcritical experiments, the land surface would be unaffected and unrestricted. Similarly, the Area 3 and Area 5 Waste Management Program sites would have an area of 34 acres of disturbed surface and an area of 821 acres of buffer zones. The disturbed areas would be restricted from subsurface access for the long term, and the surface would be restricted from most uses. Rehabilitation of the surface following closure would restore ecological productivity unless rock armor is used in closure. Rock armor would result in a sterile surface for the long term. The area in the buffer zones would have some restrictions on surface uses designed to prevent intrusion into the buried waste. Because it would likely remain undisturbed, its ecological productivity would remain unimpaired for the long term. Eighty acres would be disturbed for the long term in conjunction with weapons assembly/disassembly/interior storage. Geologic resources and groundwater in the vicinity of the underground nuclear test would have long-term impairment of productivity. Disruption and contamination would mean the unavailability of the geologic resources in the vicinity of the shot cavity for the long term. While the effect on groundwater of underground tests detonated in or near the water table remains to be determined, any contamination in excess of regulatory levels would mean the long-term unavailability of the affected water. There also exists the possibility that collapse craters and their rubble chimney would provide preferential pathways from the surface to the vicinity of shot cavities, which could result in groundwater contamination. Previous groundwater use in Yucca Flat has exceeded the perennial yield. However, during 1984 to 1994, water levels rose 26 m (85 ft), suggesting that reductions in the water table might not be long term. Activities within this alternative would disturb nearly 9,900 acres, most of which has been previously disturbed. Depending on cleanup levels, the Environmental Restoration Program would result in the disturbance of up to 9,800 acres through soil removal to remediate contaminated areas. Where removed soil would be disposed of, its productivity would be lost for the long term. Revegetation would be implemented where environmental conditions favor success, which would enhance long-term productivity. Where site conditions are unfavorable, slow natural rehabilitation would impair long-term ecological productivity. Site remediation would make these areas available for other uses, thus the short-term effects of site remediation would ultimately result in enhanced long-term productivity. Operations of the Liquid Waste Treatment System and the Spill Test Facilities might produce some limited short-term wildlife mortality. Long-term productivity would be enhanced by the remediation at the Liquid Waste Treatment System. It would contribute to understanding the effects of underground testing on the groundwater. Similarly, what is learned through use of the Spill Test Facility would assist in mitigating the environmental effects of accidental hazardous substance releases. Visual resources would be altered by the surface manifestations of underground tests. Some Environmental Restoration Program activities and waste management sites could result in surface disturbance. Surface cratering and the slow recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual resource effect. Most of the NTS is comprised of common scenery and is not visible from public viewpoints. This reduces the impact of the long-term effects. Cultural resources that cannot be avoided by a project would be subjected to data recovery in order to mitigate the impact of the activity on their values. While this enhances the short-term knowledge base, it also removes some of the potential for an even greater recovery of information to be gained through future studies using improved technology. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term.
5.6.1.2 Tonopah Test Range
Surface disturbance for both the Soils Media Corrective Action Unit and the Environmental Restoration Program industrial site remediation would produce short-term disruption of the ecosystem and soils. Ecological productivity would be reduced for the short term, but would probably be enhanced over the long term because of the removal of contamination. Variables would be the amount of soil removed and the ultimate success in reestablishing native vegetation species. There would be some short-term alteration of surface-water drainage patterns. Some PM10 would be produced in the short term from the Environmental Restoration Program sites. Temporary mobile-source emissions would be produced, but there would be no long-term effects. Visual resources would be affected. The slow natural recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual effect. Noise associated with remediation heavy equipment and drill rigs would cause local short-term noise and no long-term effects. Recovery of cultural resource data would be a short-term benefit, but would reduce the opportunity to gain greater data recovery using enhanced future technologies. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term.
5.6.1.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas
Short-term effects would be noise, minor local air-quality effects, and a very minor localized decline in ecological productivity at the sites of surface disturbance. Restoration of the drilling mud pits at the Central Nevada Test Area and other areas of contamination would increase the long-term ecological productivity. The long-term effect would be to open the area to a greater variety of land use since monitoring and surface remediation would assure that no accessible contamination is present.
5.6.2 Alternative 2
The relationship of short-term uses and long-term productivity under Alternative 2 are discussed in the following sections.
5.6.2.1 Nevada Test Site
Short-term use would consist primarily of shutdown activities, which would be similar to the levels of Waste Management and Environmental Restoration Program activities proposed in Alternative 1. However, Alternative 2 shutdown activities would be more limited in scope and duration. Consequently, they pose less potential to impact the site's resources than Alternative 1. Short-term "nonuse" of the site would mean that developed areas would remain standing and undergo slow decay. Decay of some historic structures could result in the loss of data relating to the theme of nuclear development over the long term. Only those limited facilities needed to support security and long-term environmental monitoring would be maintained. The remaining industrial areas, e.g., Mercury and the forward area camps, would slowly regain their ecological productivity as they physically decline. Compared to Alternative 1, some recovery of ecological productivity would occur. However, the lack of maintenance would result in either extensive repairsor demolition and reconstruction should the site be reactivated. Waste disposal would result in some minor amount of land being committed to long-term use as a disposal site. Alternative uses would be very limited because of the need to protect the subsurface from intrusion. Environmental Restoration Program activities would cease except for those sites that are immediately hazardous. This would mean that over the long term, contaminants could slowly spread in soils, geologic media, and groundwater, thus affecting much larger areas. Migration of uncontained contaminants over the long term could cause restrictions on land and groundwater use in surrounding lands, primarily the NAFR Complex. Some presently contaminated areas would remain contaminated and would be of restricted use for the long term. Lined drilling sumps that partially fill with precipitation would continue to cause some drowning of animals and birds. Clark County unemployment would rise an additional 3.2 percent under Alternative 2, while Nye County rates would rise an additional 6.1 percent in 1997 when compared to Alternative 1. Similarly, housing vacancy rates for Clark County would rise from 7.9 percent with Alternative 1 to 8.5 percent with Alternative 2 in 1998. Nye County vacancy rates would rise from 16.2 percent to 17.8 percent in 1998. Over the long term, growth in these areas would compensate for these losses. The lasting effect would be the out-migration of technical and engineering personnel and the loss of significant employment opportunities for graduates of Nevada's universities. Vastly reduced groundwater pumping would result in aquifer recovery and enhanced storage. Long-term effects on springs in regional discharge areas might include maintenance of current flows or enhanced flows. Some continuing effects on biological resources would exist because of shutoff of water sources that support populations of birds and animals. Tortoisemortality would decline because of limited traffic on roads. Potential public health risk from tritium in the groundwater would remain the same as under Alternative 1.
5.6.2.2 Tonopah Test Range
No short-term effects would accumulate under Alternative 2. The chief potential long-term effects would depend on the amount of migration or spreading that would occur from those sites that are presently contaminated. Migration could affect potential future land-use options and soil productivity. Remediation would be economically unfeasible if contaminants migrate.
5.6.2.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas
There would be no short-term effects. Some limited use of the land could be viable for the long term; access to the subsurface would remain restricted. There would be no short-term need to conduct data recovery at cultural resource sites; therefore, the resource sites would remain available to future researchers. They might be able to obtain greater data recovery because of enhanced future technology. These resource sites would, however, remain vulnerable to vandalism and the consequent loss of all data.
5.6.3 Alternative 3
The relationship of short-term uses and long-term productivity under Alternative 3 are discussed in the following sections.
5.6.3.1 Nevada Test Site
The majority of effects on long-term productivity would result from the continuation of present land uses and from future land uses associated with this alternative. Developed areas (e.g., Mercury, forward area camps, drill yards, roads,power lines, and waste disposal sites) would continue to be largely unproductive ecologically, but would continue long-term contributions through their support of research and development, and training. A large area would be unproductive ecologically within the alternative energy sites. However, the energy produced would be clean and would prevent the occurrence elsewhere of the more significant impacts associatedwith other forms of energy production, such as fossil, fuels, hydropower, and nuclear. Thus, alternative energy production would create a substantial long-term benefit. Operation of waste disposal sites would contribute to long-term productivity through the remediation of other areas and their return to productive uses. The Big Explosives Experiment Facility would result in surface clearing on 30 acres, which could be remediated and made available for most uses upon cessation of operations. Its 7,000-acre buffer area would be unavailable for human use, but the ecological productivity should remain largely intact. Underground nuclear tests would result in the subsurface being unavailable for the long term. The surface above an underground test could be available for limited use unless cavity collapse has occurred at the underground test. Underground subcritical experiments would result in the mined cavity being unavailable for the long term. Following subcritical experiments, the land surface would be unaffected and unrestricted. The Waste Management Program sites would be restricted from subsurface access for the long term. Rehabilitation of the surface upon closure would result in restored ecological productivity unless rock armor is used in closure. Construction of a large, heavy-industrial facility, expansion of the Device Assembly Facility, facilities for the handling and storage of weapons-usable fissile materials, and advanced hydrodynamic testing would take land and habitat out of production for the long term. The area involved would be very small compared to the size of the NTS and would have limited effect. Geologic resources and groundwater would have long-term impairment on productivity with an underground nuclear test. Disruption and contamination would cause the unavailability of geologic resources in the vicinity of the shot cavity for the long term. While the effect on groundwater of underground tests detonated in or near the water table remains to be determined, any contamination in excess of regulatory levels would mean the long-term unavailability of the affected water. There also exists the possibility that collapsed craters would provide preferential pathways down rubble chimneys from the surface to the vicinity of shot cavities. This could result in groundwater contamination. Previous groundwater use in Yucca Flat has exceeded the perennial yield. However, during 1984 to 1994, water levels rose 26 m (85 ft), suggesting that reductions in the water table might not be long term. This alternative would result in substantially greater groundwater use, which might result in long-term effects on the aquifer. Depending on cleanup levels, Environmental Restoration Program activities would result in the disturbance of up to9,800 acres through soil removal to remediate contaminated areas. The productivity of removed soil would be lost for the long term. Revegetation would be implemented where environmental conditions favor success. Success would enhance long-term productivity. Where site conditions are unfavorable, slow natural rehabilitation would impair long-term ecological productivity. Site remediation would make these areas available for other uses. The short-term effects of remediation would ultimately result in enhanced long-term productivity. Operations of the Liquid Waste Treatment Facility and the Spill Test Facility might produce some limited short-term wildlife mortality; long-term productivity would be enhanced by the remediation that the Liquid Waste Treatment System would support. Operations would contribute to under standing the effects of underground testing on the groundwater. Similarly, what is learned through use of the Spill Test Facility would assist in mitigating the environmental effects of accidental hazardous substance releases. Visual resources would be affected by underground tests. Some Environmental Restoration Program activities and waste management sites could result in surface disturbance. Surface cratering and the slow recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual resource effect. Most of the NTS is comprised of common scenery and is not visible from public viewpoints. This would reduce the impact of the long-term effects. Cultural resources that cannot be avoided by a project are subjected to data recovery. While this enhances the short-term knowledge base, it also removes some of the potential for an even greater recovery of information to be gained through futurestudies using improved technology. Implementation of the new projects proposed in Alternative 3 would result in the need to conduct surveys over large areas and to recover the data from these sites. This would represent an increase in the impact of Alternative 3 on cultural resources as compared to Alternative 1. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to increase as compared to Alternatives 1 and 2. This could result in a cumulative negative impact to cultural resources over the long term.
5.6.3.2 Tonopah Test Range
Surface disturbance for both Soils Media Corrective Action Unit and the Environmental Restoration Program industrial site remediation would produce short-term disruption of the ecosystem and soils. Ecological productivity would be reduced for the short term, but would probably be enhanced over the long term because of the removal of contamination. Variables would be the amount of soil removed and the ultimate success in reestablishing native vegetation species. See Section 4.1.6 , Biological Resources (FLORA), for a description of variables that influence natural plant succession rates, revegetation techniques, and revegetation success. There would be some short-term alteration of surface-water drainage patterns. Some PM10 would be produced in the short term from the Environmental Restoration Program sites. Temporary mobile-source emissions would be produced. There would be no long-term effects. Visual resource would be affected. The slow natural recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual effect. Noise associated with remediation heavy equipment and drill rigs would cause local short-term noise and no long-term effects. Recovery of cultural resource data would be a short-term benefit, but would reduce the opportunity to gain greater data recovery using enhanced future technologies. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term.
5.6.3.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas
Short-term effects would be noise, minor local air-quality effects, and a very minor localized decline in ecological productivity at the sites of surface disturbance. Restoration of the drilling mud pits at the Central Nevada Test Area and other areas of contamination would increase the long-term ecological productivity. The long-term effect would be to open the area to a greater variety of land use. Monitoring and surface remediation would ensure that no accessible contamination would be present. Recovery of cultural resource data would be a short-term benefit, but would reduce the opportunity to gain greater data recovery using enhanced future technologies. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term. Contaminated geologic media and groundwater would remain unavailable for the long term.
5.6.3.4 Eldorado Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily recreational uses would be precluded or substantially reduced. The installation or upgrading of infrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. The long-term effect on the area's low-density tortoise population would be negative. Since it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it would be likely that even upon removal of a solar project, habitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use of aggregate and fill materials for construction would be a long-term commitment of these resources, which are common in the region. The necessity of removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent an impact. Data recovered represents a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, materials removed from their context and studied with present technology would beunavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar generating facilities may increase access to archaeologicallysensitive areas. This could result in unavoidable long-term impacts such as vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.
5.6.3.5 Dry Lake Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily recreational uses would be precluded or substantially reduced. The installation or upgrading of infrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. The long-term effect on the area's low- density tortoise population would be negative. Construction of a water line to Dry Lake Valley has the potential to substantially impact tortoise habitat. This would have a substantial long-term impact on tortoise populations to the north, particularly if existingpower line rights-of-way were not used. Additionally, if groundwater use were sufficient to reduce the discharge at Muddy Spring, there could be an impact on its Moapa dace population. Since it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it is likely that even upon removal of a solar project, the habitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use for construction of aggregate and fill materials, which are common in the region, would be a long-term commitment of these resources. Removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, materials removed from their context and studied with present technology would be unavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies.
5.6.3.6 Coyote Spring Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily dispersed light recreational uses would be precluded or substantially reduced. Depending on the location within the valley, the long-term effect on the area's tortoise population and critical habitat for this species would be negative. Construction of a water line in Coyote Spring Valley has the potential to substantially impact tortoise habitat. This could have a substantial long-term impact on tortoise populations particularly if existing power line rights-of-way were not used. The installation or upgrading ofinfrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. Additionally, if groundwater use were sufficient to reduce the discharge at Muddy Spring, there could be an impact on its Moapa dace population. If local spring discharges were reduced or stopped, species dependent on them could be lost for the long term. Because it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it would be likely that even upon removal of a solar project, the habitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use for construction of aggregate and fill materials, which are common in the region, would be a long-term commitment of these resources. Removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, removed from their context these materials would be unavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar-generating facilities may increase access to archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in unavoidable long-term impacts such as vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.
5.6.4 Alternative 4
The relationship of short-term use and long-term productivity under Alternative 4 is discussed in the following sections.
5.6.4.1 Nevada Test Site
The majority of effects on long-term productivity would result from the continuation of present land use and from future land use associated with Alternative 4. Developed areas like Mercury, e.g., forward area camps, drill yards, roads, power lines, and waste disposal sites, would continue to be largely unproductive ecologically, but would continue long-term contributions through their support of research and development and training. Operating waste disposal sites would contribute to long-term productivity through the remediation of other areas and their return to productive uses. Similarly, the waste management sites would be restricted from subsurface access for the long term. Rehabilitationof the surface upon closure would result in restored ecological productivity. Previous underground testing has resulted in long-term impairment of geologic resources and ground water productivity, but Alternative 4, unlike Alternative 1 would not include the impacts of additional underground nuclear tests. Disruption and contamination would mean the unavailability of the geologic resources in the vicinity of the shot cavity for the long term. The effect on groundwater of underground tests detonated in or near the water table remains to be determined. Any contamination in excess of regulatory levels would mean the long-term unavailability of the affected water. There also exists the possibility that collapsed craters would provide preferential pathways from the surface down rubble chimneys to the vicinity of shot cavities, which could result in groundwater contamination. There are two candidate sites at the NTS for the Solar Enterprise Zone facility, Fortymile Canyon in Area 25 and Mercury Valley in Area 22. Peak historic demand has not exceeded perennial yield at either location. However, a Solar Enterprise Zone facility would require a substantial increase in groundwater use. Total groundwater withdrawal would increase above the natural recharge of the affected aquifer. This would require the use of some underflow and could result in long-term effects on groundwater resources. Depending on cleanup levels, Environmental Restoration Program activities would result in the disturbance of up to 9,800 acres, through soil removal to remediate contaminated areas. Removed soil productivity would be lost for the long term. See Section 4.1.6 , Biological Resources (FLORA), for a description of natural plant succession rates, revegetation techniques, and revegetation success. Revegetation would be implemented where environmental conditions favor success. Success would enhance long-term productivity. Where site conditions are unfavorable, slow natural rehabilitation would impair long-term ecological productivity. Site remediation would make these areas available for other uses. The short-term effects of remediation would ultimately result in enhanced long-term productivity. Operations of the Liquid Waste Treatment System and the Spill Test Facility might produce some limited short-term wildlife mortality; long-term productivity would be enhanced by the remediation that the Liquid Waste Treatment System would support and by its contribution to understanding the effects of underground testing on the groundwater. Similarly, what is learned through use of the Spill Test Facility would assist in mitigating the environmental effects of accidental hazardous substance releases. Visual resources would be affected by some Environmental Restoration Program activities that result in surface disturbance, and waste management sites. The slow recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual resource effect. Much of the NTS is comprised of common scenery, but would become more visible to the public with its opening to other public uses. This would increase the impact of the long-term effects. Cultural resources that cannot be avoided by a project are subjected to data recovery to mitigate the impact of the activity on their values. While this enhances the short-term knowledge base, it also removes some of the potential for an even greater recovery of information to be gained through future studies using improved technology.
5.6.4.2 Tonopah Test Range
Surface disturbance for both the Soils Media Corrective Action Unit and the Environmental Restoration Program site remediation would produce short-term disruption of the ecosystem and soils. Ecological productivity would be reduced for the short term, but would probably be enhanced over the long term because of the removal of contamination. Variables would be the amount of soil removed and the ultimate success in reestablishing native vegetation species. There would be some short-term alteration of surface-water drainage patterns. Some PM10 would be produced in the short term from the Environmental Restoration Program sites. Temporary mobile-source emissions would be produced. There would be no long-term effects. Visual resources would be affected. The slow natural recovery of vegetation in arid environments would cause a long-term visual effect. Noise associated with remediation heavy equipment and drill rigs would cause local short-term noise and no long-term effects. Recovery of cultural resource data would be a short-term benefit, but would reduce the opportunity to gain greater data recovery using enhanced future technologies. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term.
5.6.4.3 Project Shoal and Central Nevada Test Areas
Short-term effects would be noise, minor local air-quality effects, and a very minor localized decline in ecological productivity at the sites of surface disturbance. Restoration of the drilling mud pits at the Central Nevada Test Area and other areas of contamination would increase long-term ecological productivity. The long-term effect would be to open the area to a greater variety of land uses since monitoring and surface remediation would ensure that no accessible contamination would be present. Recovery of cultural resource data would be a short-term benefit, but would reduce the opportunity to gain greater data recovery using enhanced future technologies. Vandalism and illicit artifact collecting within archaeologically sensitive areas are likely to cause a negative impact to cultural resources over the long term. Contaminated geologic media and groundwater would remain unavailable for the long term.
5.6.4.4 Eldorado Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily recreational use would be precluded or substantially reduced. The installation or upgrading of infrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. The long-term effect on the area's low- density tortoise population would be negative. Since it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it would be likely that, even upon removal of a solar project, thehabitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use of aggregate and fill materials for construction would be a long-term commitment of these resources, which are common in the region. The necessity of removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, materials removed from their context and studied with present technology would be unavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar-generating facilities may increase access to archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in unavoidable long-term impacts such as vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.
5.6.4.5 Dry Lake Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily recreational use would be precluded or substantially reduced. The long-term effect on the area's low-density tortoise population would be negative. Construction of a water line to Dry Lake Valley has the potential to substantially impact tortoise habitat. This would have a substantial long-term impact on tortoise populations to the north, particularly if existing power line rights-of-way were not used. The installation or upgrading of infrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. Additionally, if groundwater use were sufficient to reduce the discharge at Muddy Spring, there could be an impact on its Moapa dace population. Since it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it would be likely that, even upon removal of a solar project, habitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use of aggregate and fill materials for construction would be a long-term commitment of these resources, which are common in the region. The necessity of removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, materials removed from their context and studied with present technologywould be unavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar-generating facilities may increase access to archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in unavoidable long-term impacts such as vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.
5.6.4.6 Coyote Spring Valley
Land use would be committed to a single use for the long term. Other primarily dispersed light recreational uses would be precluded or substantially reduced. Depending on the location within the valley, the long-term effect on the area's tortoise population and critical habitat for this species would be negative. Construction of a water line in Coyote Spring Valley has the potential to substantially impact tortoise habitat. This could have a substantial long-term impact on tortoise populations, particularly if existing power line rights-of-way were not used. The installation or upgrading of infrastructure would facilitate future development in the valley. Additionally, if groundwater use were sufficient to reduce the discharge at Muddy Spring, there could be an impact on its Moapa dace population. If local spring discharges were reduced or stopped, species dependent on them could be lost for the long term. Since it is difficult to restore pristine conditions in arid environments, it would be likely that, even upon removal of a solar project, habitat would not reach its former condition over the long term. The use for construction of aggregate and fill materials would be a long-term commitment of the resources that are common in the region. The necessity of removing cultural resource materials that would otherwise be destroyed by construction would represent a benefit to the present knowledge base. However, materials removed from their context and studied with present technology would be unavailable for subsequent study using improved future technologies. Construction of roads in areas proposed for solar generating facilities may increase access to archaeologically sensitive areas. This could result in unavoidable long-term impacts such as vandalism and illicit artifact collecting.
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