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fisheries in severe ice condition areas. Prolonged water temperatures that are too high would be harmful to cold water species such as trout. The parasites you noted could be due to water temperature, fish density, or other factors. As indicated in chapter 4 of the EIS, negotiations were held to try to determine if other alternatives existed that had wider public acceptance. 51. MR. MARX PZARSON: (Represent. Rocky Mountain Chapter of Sierra Club). Mr. Pearson stated that the Gunnison River, Black Canyon, and Gunnison Gorge are all public resources, and we have a special obligation to protect them. There is not sufficient information in the DEIS for us to make a determination on whether we as public owners of this resource should go along with this project. The benefit-cost ratio does not provide all the information needed. Alternatives that take less water out of the river were discarded because of low benefit-cost ratios, but we do not know what profits are built in. Could more water be left in the river if Mitex took a smaller profit? We are happy to sit down and talk about alternatives if we have all the information before us. The reserved water rights for the Monument and the Black Canyon Wilderness precede the AS Lateral Hydropower rights, and neither of those rights have been quantified. The Sierra Club will certainly be urging the Park Service, when they file for their quantification, to assert numbers that are sufficient to maintain the natural ecology of the river. RESPONSE: Additional information is contained on the financial feasibility ratio in chapter 2 of the FEIS, which indicates what alternatives are financially feasible to construct and operate. Several alternatives were discarded because they were econom- ically infeasible, and this group contained several smaller diversions. The reserved water right for the Monument and the Black Canyon Wilderness would be senior to the hydropower operation under the 1982 and 1987 hydropower decrees and also senior to certain other upstream water rights including the Aspinall Unit. Please see the RESPONSE to COMMENT F-l for additional information. 52. MR. PHILIP EGIDI: (Represented the Gunnison River Action Group). Mr. Egidi indicated that implementing the project would send the wrong message to tourists, also, jObs created by the project would be offset by jobs lost in the Gorge. Concerned that if unexpected occurrences happen to the project, the farmers would be left with a large debt service. The financial concerns were what disturbed him more than anything else. RESPONSE : that would fishing is In chapter 3, the EIS predicts a reduction of rafting have an effect on related jobs. Conversely, hike-in projected to increase. The project was created so it P-37