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ATTACHM~NT C 13c ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS - DOLORES PROJECT There has been close coordination between the project sponsors and the environmental community for many years. It ~as through this coordination that the plan was altered to ellocete 25,400 acre-feet of project water for the purpose of restoring the lower 168 miles of the Dolores River to its original perennial status. This will greatly enhance scenic, fishery and recreation of the stream. A scheduling procedure has been worked out whereby surplus water in McPhee Reservoir would be released in anticipation of spills sO that white water boating could be maintained and in some respects improved. Good boating days could be grouped together and accurately predicted, whereas the boating opportunities now are dependent on nature and are unpredictable. Both the project sponsors and the environmental community sup- ported the passage of P.L. 93-621 of January 3, 1975 ~hich provides for the completion of a study by January 4, 1976 to determine whether the Dolores River below McPhee Damsite will qualify for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic River System. McPhee Reservoir will inundate ten miles of relatively poor stream fishery and some winter wildlife range. However, the Reservoir will have a large inactive pool and a minimum of vertical fluctuation in the active storage zone, thus providing excellent opportunities for fishing and recreation. Project funds will be provided for acquisition and improvement of land north and east of the Dolores River for winter range to mitigate big game habitat losses caused by the project. The project includes Dawson Draw Reservoir, a specific fish and wildlife facilitv. It will have 294 surface acres of water and a 960 acre wildlife management area. Environmental hearings are not expected to demonstrate that environmental enhancements will exceed environmental degradations. 16