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- - lEe Ic'j Mfu fJe.1.D-" b:ec ~ ) /c(83 Forest Service foe of dam on Poudre By KAREN HINTON Rocky Mountam News Northem Buteau FORT COLLINS - The U.S. For- est Service is opposed to the Grey Mounbin-ldylwildc dam project on the Poudre River and has recom- mended designations that would prot('('t most of the main stem. If Congress follows the Forest Service's recommendations and designates 32 miles of the river as "recreational" and 30 miles as "wild and scenic," dam construction would be prevented on the two stretches of the river. "Current information significant- ly undercuts the long-proposed Grey Mounlain-Idylwildc project"s feasibility," the Forest Service said in a recenl addendum to a 1982 report on the Poudre. "The Forest Service is opposed to any main stem water developmenl because of the unacceptable envi- ronmental effects:' The designations would protect 62 miles of the river roughly from Poudre Park to Rustic and the Big and Little South Forks. The water project, proposed by the Northern Colorado Water Con- servancy District to supply water to Greek'v and Fort Collins, would capture spring runoff. The estimat- ed cost is over $400 million Many Larimer County residents and several environmental groups avidly support the designations as a way to prohibit dams and commer- cial development on the Poudre. The Forest Service's sanction of thi' designations is considered im- portant to passing the necessary legislation in Congress. Rep. Hank Brown, R-Colo., will introduce a bill making the designa- tions if a committee he appointed on the issue recommends it. said Mike Fitzsimmons, an aide. Environmental groups praised the Forest Service's recommenda- tion on the 62 miles, but they want to add another 22 miles of the river along private property. "Eventually, people will begin developing in the canyon - more resorts, more mobile homes," said Larry Metlhaff, project director of the Colorado Open Space Council. "Landowners will want to sell their rights." Metlhaff said the government would rather "chop up the rivern than pay landowners for easements. Craig Rupp, regional forester for the Forest Service, agreed the pri- vate land was excluded because of the casement costs. He said the des- ignation stood a better chance of receiving the blessing of the Office of Management and Budget if the pri1...ate land was left out. Rupp said slate and local govern- ments could pass laws to regulate development on the private lands and thus protect the river's scenic quality. The private property extends IS miles above Indian Meadows and 7 miles below Poudre Park.. 0861