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, ,j BUREAU OF SPORT FISBERIES AND WILDLIFE of the year and except for some tributary inflow, the Williams Fork River could be dewatered from the site of this proposed impoundment to Denver's existing Williams Fork Reservoir. The Parshall Project area embraces a portion of the winter range available to the important mule deer and elk herds of Middle Park. The area south of Kremmling and east of the Blue River, inclUding Junction Butte (also known as Elk Mountain), is used during severe winters. Lands north and east of the proposed Skylark Canal, as well as those in the Syl- van area, now Serve as fall and spring range for mule deer which winter on Cedar Ridge northwest of iiilliams Fork Reservoir. Upland game includes sage grouse and blue grouse, mourning doves, cottontails, and snowshoe hares. Various species of ducks and fur animals, of which the beaver is the most important, inhabit the i-lilliams Fork River and its tributaries. Project lands already under irrigation are devoted mostly to the pro- duction of alfalfa. The acreage slated for irrigation consists for the most part of rolling hills and flats which are noVl covered by sagebrush. Most of the Ute Park Reservoir site is in grasses and forbs except for streamside willows, cottonwoods, and shrubs and aspens, and conifers close to the proposed highwater line. The present pattern of use by big game may be changed adversely with development of the Parshall Project. It'''is assumed that standards and specifications for the main irrigation canals would provide that they would not be barriers to established migration routes. However, the newly irrigated lands in themselves would eliminate large tracts of present range for both mule deer and elk. Extension of a pattern of irrigated agricul- ture, especially in the Sylvan area where the situation is already serious, would increase the big-game damage problems which confront the Colorado Department of Game and Fish. The status Report contains the statement that, "... bypasses for fish- ery purposes could not be made through the Ute Park Reservoir." It is the opinion of our Bureau and the Colorado Department of Game and Fish that fishery bypasses are necessary below the reservoir. Suitable fishery flows should be maintained throughout the year in the Williams Fork River from the ute Park Reservoir site to the present Williams Fork Reservoir. As pointed out above, the major effects of the Parshall Project upon wildlife concern mule deer and elk. The canals rna:y have to be modified to minimize their effects on established big-game migration routes. Final selection of project lands should include consideration of the loss of win- ter range for both mule deer and elk, and possible mitigation measures to alleviate such losses. Management problems which would be brought about by additional irrigated lands in an important wintering area for big game 25