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flfl2!E2 Hunting will be affected by this alternative in a manner similar to Alternative '!Wo. However, the lack of disturbance and/or harassment factors on the east side of Windy Pass will allow both deer and elk to stay in the back bowl and surrounding habitats. Increased awareness of the Wolf Creek area will initially increase the numbers of big game hunters. Eventually as more hunters come to the area, the hunter success rate will fall and finally the number of hunters may decline after the word gets out that there are too many hunters. This could then lead to a decline in hunting revenue to the local economy. Hunting pressure within the proposed project may very well be controlled by how much of it is open to hunting or how it can be accessed. The relationship of improved habitat versus habitat lost for prey species of the peregrine falcon is still a matter of professional debate. Basically habitat diversity for sane prey species will improve as a result of streambank stabilization and wetland riparian enhancements planned by the proponent. However, sane habitat for prey species will be lost as a result of roads, housing and other associated construction activities planned on the private land. It is iqx:>ssible to determine the net resultant effect on the number of prey species or their abundance. The greatest impact to the peregrine would be due to harassment by human activities in the area at the base of the cliff below the hack site. It should be noted that this impact will occur with all three alternatives because the development at the base of the cliff is planned regardless of whether a Forest Service Special Use permit is issued. Much work has been done to try to develop mitigation to reduce the impact, and the mitigation that has already been agreed to by Wolf Creek Valley is included in Appendix A. 4. Fisheries a. Alternative One This alternative would not cause any unnatural changes in the flow regime or sediment load of the tributary streams or the San Juan River. Fish populations both within and outside of the project area would remain fairly stable. There would be little opportunity to improve the fishery habitat or public access to the project lands. b. Alternative '!Wo This alternative could cause significant changes in the sediment load of the impacted tributary streams. The flCM regimes of these streams would be shifted so that the peak flCM occurs fran 7 to 19 days earlier each spring with approximately the same magnitude. 207