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. . / . . t t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . divenions or any other diversions. . Forecasts were based on the calculated natural runoff in rhe Uncompahgre River at Cotona to 31 July. All the hypothetical routings of rbe snowmelt flood events showed that flows in tlIe Uncompahgre River could be held witllin the downstream channel capacities. 8-03. Recreation. Ridgway Reservoir is opened for recreation use on a fee basis. The recreational development is reached via a 2-mile (3.2 kIn) long access road which connects with Colorado State Highway 550. The recreational activities include boating, fishing, swimming, and picnicking. The National Park Service, which analY2ed the recreation plan, estimates an optimum annual use of 348,000 recreation days. 8-04. Water Qualitv. According to the USBR studies, siltation in the Uncompahgre River below Ridgway Dam is reduced as suspended sediment is impounded in the reservoir. Water impounded in the reservoir would be expected to experience increases in the nutrient levels as the water level rises. Thus, water released to the Uncompahgre River could have somewhat higher concentrations of nutricn ts, which could result in changes in the aquatic ecosystem. 8-05. Fish ..nct Wildlife. Most of the 23,584 acre.feet (29.1 hm') of the inactive stor.1ge capacity at Ridgway Reservoir is designated for fish conservation and recreation. If Slacking was to occur in the future, it is projected that there would be an annual use of l6,000 person-days of fiShing in [he reservoir. Fish and Wildlife Service estimated that public utilization of fub.ing downstteam from Ridgway Dam would be increased annually by 6,000 person-days. The operation of Ridgway Reservoir is expected to contribute to the development of an attractive coldwater lake fishery. Reservoir inundation and project roads eliminated about 900 acres (364 ha) of upland game habitat, with recreational development taking another 12-15 acres (5-6 ha) of wildlife habitat. Still, deer populations are expected 10 be maintained at about their preproject levels, due to the acquisition of 1,000 "wildlife habitat" acres (405 ha) to be developed as a mitigation measure. However, there is an annual reduction of 50 person-days of deer hunting due to the loss of habitat, even with the mitigation measures. Upland game birds have benefitted from irrigation of new lands. 8-06. Water SU!)Sllv. Municipal and industrial water will be made available whenever poputation increases and industrial development occurs in the Uncompahgre Valley. Ridgway Reservoir provides 28, 100 acre-feet (34.6 hmJ) of water available for municipal and industrial use, of which 22,600 (27.9 hm') is municipal. Ridgway Reservoir can provide an average irrigation supply of 16,800 acre-feet (20.7 hm') of water each year. In e"~mely dry years or several consecutive dry years, irrigation supplies may be reduced. USWllly, there is only surplus water during very wet years. Under project operation, greater irrigation efficiencies and more effective use of available water becomes a realit'j due to late summer supplies being assured. The reduction of water shoffilges On existing irrigated lands will permit a stabilization and strengthening of the area's economy, however, 645 acres (26l ha) of irrigated land will be lost because of project requirements. 8-3