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CWCB <br />8/31/83 <br />CONEJOS RIVER <br />WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY <br />Background <br />Public Law 90 -542, as amended, directed the Secretary of <br />Agriculture to study the Conejos River for possible inclusion in <br />the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (National System). A <br />joint Federal /State study team was organized in September, 1975, <br />to perform the study, which was to include "the three forks fran <br />their source to their confluence, thence the Conejos River to its <br />first junction with State Highway 17, excluding Platoro <br />Reservoir." <br />Eligibility and Classifica <br />The study team concluded that the North Fork, Middle Fork, <br />E1 Rito Azul, and South Fork were eligible for inclusion in the <br />National System at the wild river classification. The Conejos <br />River from Platoro Reservoir to the Highway 17 bridge was found <br />eligible for inclusion at the recreation river classification. <br />Issues and Concerns (as expressed b the public) <br />During the course of the study, a series of ,five public <br />meetings was held in Colorado and New Mexico from September, <br />1975, through July, 1979. <br />The major issues and concerns raised were: <br />o protection of wild, scenic, and recreation river <br />values; <br />o the effects of easements and government restrictions on <br />private landowners; <br />o the effects of the loss of grazing privileges; <br />o the minimum water flows required to maintain wild and <br />scenic river values; <br />o the possible impacts on the administration of the Rio <br />Grande Compact; <br />o the effects on the operation of Platoro Reservoir; <br />701 <br />Con /Riv <br />