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<br />Bureau of Reclamation Responses to Comments <br /> <br />The, San Juan Ecology Proj ect. recently completed WIder the sponsor- <br />ship of Project Skywater. represents the most comprehensive single <br />investigation of this topic to date. The results of this research <br />as it applies to big game animals is sunnnarized in paragraph 3.5.2.1 <br />Though increased snow depth is recognized as a factor in the carry- <br />ing capacity of winter ranges. researches to date have not led to <br />expectation of a constraint that would affect existence of herds in <br />any place where they are now established. The HIPLEX research <br />program will have no impact on winter range of game species. The <br />Sierra Cooperative Program will be the subject of a separate <br />environmental statement. <br /> <br />The-comment is <br /> <br />and appreciated <br /> <br />acknowledged <br /> <br />4 <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br /> Page 2. <br /> 4 The last comment deals with the lack of information on the impact of <br /> increased snow pack on winter range. Winter range is considered a major <br /> constraint on the survival of many western herds of game species.. This <br /> impact should be reviewed for the proposed study sites. <br /> 5 The Fish and Wildlife Service supports the careful - scientifically based _ <br /> experimental approach of Project Skywater. We are prepared to assist in <br /> design of ecologically oriented experiments to quantify the impact of this <br /> program. We strongly recommend active monitoring of habitat changes as a <br /> resul t of these experiments. <br /> < "I <br /> , 11 ! <br /> /' .; ,) ~/ jI <br /> ..0 ,/ V /', <br /> /ill G ' / <br /> Herbert B. Quinn I Jr. <br />:>0: <br />I <br />..... <br />~ <br />