CDOW review and comments of the PRRIP Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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• SPECIFIC COMMENTS Figure 3 -2: This figure would better illustrate the location of Tamarack Project Phase I and H if the small dots were deleted and the general area between Fort Morgan and the state line were highlighted. Page 3 -19 (7): Our concern is with the last sentence which states: "Operations of the Pathfinder Dam EA and the Tamarack Project Phase I, would be in accordance with rules approved by the Governance Committee." We would like added clarification that CDOW will not relinquish control of those operations conducted on the portion of the Tamarack Project located on state wildlife areas. CDOW's control is to ensure that there is no inadvertent injury to fish and wildlife resources in Colorado including endangered, threatened, and species of concern on state wildlife area property as a result of project operations. Page 4 -53 and 5 -76: The DEIS states that Tamarack Projects I and III provide minor improvements in EC based on a relationship developed by Burns (1985). The conclusion for the South Platte River at Julesburg was that a small decrease in specific conductance (EC) would occur. The evidence presented demonstrated all action alternatives did indeed decrease EC at Julesburg, some more than others. The decrease presented is minimal and probably not detectable in reality by aquatic communities. Given the data presented the conclusions seem appropriate. All the conclusions on EC improvements are based on modeling and associated assumptions. Monitoring and ground truthing should be a component of any implementation plan. Often, in this type of modeling the majority of conditions in which aquatic communities are exposed are characterized accurately but the extremes are not. It only takes one extreme event to eradicate an aquatic assemblage. Data for temperature, dissolved oxygen or contaminants was not presented for this site. Sites further down river will be impacted by elevated contaminant concentrations which are connected to removing water from the river upstream, the data presented illustrated this impact. Descriptions of lands in Colorado — The following descriptions are recommended: Page 4 -183 Tamarack Ranch SWA Tamarack Ranch SWA is owned and operated by the CDOW. This 10,696 -acre area is located in Logan County in the far corner of northeastern Colorado. The wildlife area stretches along 14 miles of the South Platte River and is intensively managed for waterfowl, upland game, small game, and non -game wildlife. The area is a very popular quality hunting property with reservation hunting available. Other recreation on the property includes fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, and camping. The property provides habitat for waterfowl, upland game, small game, deer, turkey, raptors (including bald eagles), and many migratory neo- tropical birds. In addition to the South Platte River, the property provides sandhill grasslands along the riparian corridor which greatly increases plant and wildlife species diversity. Page 4 -184 Jackson Lake State Park ADD TO THE PARAGRAPH The north side of Jackson Lake is owned by the DOW and managed as a 400 acre SWA. The property is managed to provide shallow seasonal wetlands and provides habitat for large numbers of waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors (including bald eagles), upland game, deer and transient neo - tropical birds. The property provides hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing recreation. Page 4 -184 Jumbo / Julesburg Reservoir CDOW owns a portion of this 3,185 acre property and manages the entire property for recreation. Uses include hunting, fishing, wildlife observation, boating, and camping. A user fee is required. This property is heavily utilized by waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors (including bald eagles), and migratory neo - tropical birds. Page 4 -185 Prewitt Reservoir CDOW manages recreation at this 3,000 acre property. A user fee is required. Uses include fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, boating, and camping. This property is heavily utilized by waterfowl, shorebirds, raptors (including bald eagles), and migratory neo - tropical birds. Some small game, upland game, and deer are also present.