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'11 Response: 41. Comment: Response: Are these impacts (i.e., stranded and habitat desiccation) going to be evaluated? Although some natural reproduction takes place by rainbow trout. essentially the only trout species in the Quality Waters portion of the fishery, this section of the river is largely supported through the regular stocking offingerling rainbow trout. (The Quality Waters section is identified by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department as the first 4 miles of the fishery downstream from the dam.) Also. the reduction inflow to 250 cfs. while reducing habitat for adult rainbow trout. actually increases available habitat for fingerling trout; therefore. impacts to young-of-the-year trout within this section of river would be negligible. There may be some effect to young-of-the-year habitat for brown trout, primarily downstream of Citizen's Ditch. however, entrainment of small fish in ditch diversions has much greater impact to small life stages than would habitat loss within the river. Reclamation needs to clearly define "significant trout losses" in the EA. In addition, Reclamation should develop specific parameters to protect against "significant trout losses" that if exceeded would require termination of the test. Reclamation does not believe that "significant" trout losses will occur within the Quality Waters section (identified by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department as the first 4 miles downstream from the dam) of the trout fishery. Reclamation is concerned that trout downstream of major diversions may be lost to some degree. The significance of this potential loss is somewhat debatable. While there are "packets" of trout (primarily brown trout) downstream of Citizen's Ditch, public access to anglers is extremely limited. Virtually all of the land an both sides of the river is private and permission to access the river for recreational fishing is required. Floatfishing does occur and is pennissible under New Mexico State law as long as the anglers do not leave their boat. Still, compared to fishennan use upstream of Citizen's Ditch, recreational fishing below this diversion is very low. With only a few exceptions, losses to the trout population below Citizen' s Ditch would not likely result in significant losses in angler days. The trout, in particular brawn trout, are self sustaining due to successful natural reproduction and recruitment. They are; however, not a native species and were introduced for the recreational fisherman to use far their enjoyment. From an ecological standpoint, losses to this population are not as significant as losses to native fish. although from a recreational fishing 22