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I I I o. The San Miguel Project would deplete the flow of the Colorado River by an average of 85,000 acre-feet annually. This depletion would be within the apportionment of consumptive use of water made to Colorado by the Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1958 and remaining for use of the State after development of its authorized projects and other projects likely to be developed prior to the San Miguel Project. . The effects of the San Miguel Project on fish and wildlife values have been evaluated by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and lvildlife. Preliminary information furnished by that Bureau indicates that the San Miguel Project would provide average annual fish and wild- life benefits of $204,000. Of this amount $168,900 would be attributable to fishing at the three project reservoir, $28,400 would be associated with hunting for upland game and waterfowl and trapping of fur animals, and $6,700 would be for waterfowl conservation. . Values of trout fishing in the San Miguel River and mule deer hunting wo~ld be decreased with no practicable means of fully mitigating the losses. The San Miguel River fishery between Saltado Reservoir and the Colorado Cooperative Canal would be maintained by reservoir releases for project purposes, including maintenance of a minimum flow. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife found that these flows would assure the perpetuation of river pools, protect aquatic vegetation and invertebrate animal life, and perrr.it successful spawning and rearing of fish, but on a smaller scale than under present conditions. As recommended by that bureau, a river channel improvement program which would include channel modifications and the development of ponding areas is included in project plans. As also recommended, independent control would be provided for the two segments of the Radium Reservoir so that the east segment can be held at higher levels for fish and wildlife, including maintenance at full stage during the waterfowl mating season. In addition, a fish and wildlife managerr.ent area "ould be developed on and around Radium Reservoir for administra- tion by the Colorado Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. The cost of specific fish and wildlife facilities is estimated at $419,000, including $250,000 for river channel improvements below Galtado Reservoir and $169,000 for development of the Radium fish and 11ildlife nrea. The annual cost of operating and ~aintaining the facilities is estimated at $10,000 for the channel llcprovements and. $10,700 for the fish and wildlife area. The latter cost would be borne by the State or Colorado and "as therefore excluded as a project cost and was deducted from the fish and wildlife benefits in benefit-cost comparisons. 5