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<br />The other primary method for identification of impacts was interviews with landowners and <br />members of the Colorado Aquaculture Association. All interviewees were guaranteed anonymity <br />for their complete candor. Six landowners and four aquaculture members participated after they <br />reviewed the latest version of the proposed stocking procedures. It was the decision of this <br />researcher that adequate representation of the angling community occurred due to the attitudes <br />and activities of the review committee chosen. Interviews were completed individually and no <br />member is presently aware of other participants. The comments provided during these interviews <br />were compiled into statements of impact and mitigation. <br /> <br />Results <br />Impacts to private landowners <br /> <br />. Elimination of stocking nonnative warmwater fish species below the 50 year floodplain <br />will eliminate private warm water fisheries in most private ponds in designated critical <br />habitat. <br /> <br />. The procedures create substantial additional costs for private landowners to comply. The <br />cost of compliance (application, notification, evaluation, modification, permitting) may <br />exceed the costs of actually stocking the fish even for Table 1 situations described in the <br />procedures. <br /> <br />. Elimination of all warmwater nonnative fish stocking at or below the 50 year floodplain <br />represents a total elimination of recreational fishery production potential for those private <br />landowners that have little or no coldwater fishery habitat to support trout during the <br />typical angling season of April- September when most fishing is done in the Rocky <br />Mountain region. <br /> <br />. Elimination or significant inhibition of recreational fishery potential on private land in a <br />recreation/tourism based economy like Colorado's will reduce land value. The procedures <br />inhibit and eliminate the opportunity of private landowners to participate in Colorado's <br />estimated $300 million private angling economy by reducing their ability to support <br />recreational angling. The procedures will not impact the ability of landowners to <br />participate in the portion of the economy supported by coldwater fish. It is conceivable <br />that losses still may be large enough to be interpreted and/or litigated as a constitutional or <br />judicial "taking of private land without just compensation" as defined by state and federal <br />statue. <br /> <br />. Fisheries value results in private landowner interest in maintenance of water quality and <br />conditions conducive to fisheries. Reduced value will result in reduced investment in water <br />management by private landowners. Without the established value the presence of <br />recreational fisheries represents landowners will no longer be motivated to reclaim and <br /> <br />4 <br />