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The SCIC was established in 1899 to deliver irrigation water to users along the north slope of the eastern Uinta Mountains. The SCIC system consists of 22 miles of mountain canals from Tamarack, Jessen,Daggetl, and Spirit Lakes, to the Long Park Reservoir, located within the Ashley National Forest. Constructed in 1979, Long Park Reservoir has a storage capacity of 14,000 acre feet and has been recently upgraded to meet U.S. Forest Service standards. The SCIC System consists of the Sheep Creek Canal and six main canal laterals: the Nebeker Lateral, the AntelopeLateral, the South Valley Lateral, the Cedar Hollow Lateral, and the "Wash"/Birch Springs System. There are approximately 110 miles of canals and laterals in the valley that deliver water to individual stockholders. Water from the SCIC system irrigates approximately 11,400 acres of agricultural land.

The federal action evaluated in this EA is whether or not federal funds should be used to implement the proposed project improvements for the Cedar Hollow lateral. The purpose of the proposed project improvements is to replace the existing unlined earthen Cedar Hollow lateral with a pipeline. The proposed 5.42 mile long pipeline running from the Cedar Hollow diversion to the end of the lateral would increase the efficiency of the existing system and conserve water. The proposed project improvements are needed to reduce maintenance on the canal and reduce the salinity contributions resulting from the existing Cedar Hollow lateral, consistent with the purposes of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program. The proposed project improvements are anticipated to reduce the salinity contributions to Colorado River Basin by 2,220 tons annually.