Laserfiche WebLink
<br />002461 <br /> <br />Eligibility and Classification <br /> <br />The study team found the Colorado River from the Lorna launch <br />site, 20.7 miles upstream from the Colorado-Utah border, down- <br />stream to its confluence with the Dolores River in Utah eligible <br />for inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic River system. This <br />55.7 mile portion of the river was found to contain outstandingly <br />remarkable scenic. geologic, cultural, recreational, and fish and <br />wildlife values. The Dolores River from Gateway, Colorado, down- <br />stream 31 miles to its confluence with the Colorado River in Utah <br />was found eligible for inclusion in the National System. This <br />Lower Dolores reach was found to have outstandingly remarkable <br />scenic, geologic, recreational, and wildlife values. <br /> <br />The study team divided the eligible study reaches into <br />segments with the following classification levels (attached map <br />illustrates segment location): <br /> <br />Colorado Riv,er <br /> <br />Segment A, Loma Launch to Westwater Canyon, 27.7 miles, <br />scenic classification <br />Segment 8. Westwater Canyon to Rose Ranch, 13 miles, wild <br />classification <br />Segment C, Rose Ranch to Cisco Wash, II miles, scenic <br />classification <br />Segment D, Cisco Wash to Dolores River, 4 miles, <br />recreational classification <br /> <br />Lower Dolores River <br /> <br />Segment A, Gateway, Colorado to Fisher Creek, 14 miles, <br />scenic classification <br />Segment 8, Fisher Creek to Bridge Canyon, 6 miles, wild <br />classification <br />Segment C. Bridge Canyon to Colorado River, 11 miles, <br />scenic classification <br /> <br />Issues and Concerns (as expressed by the public) <br /> <br />The major issues regarding river designation expressed by <br />the public were: <br /> <br />o The significant negative impact upon mineral exploration <br />and mining operations; <br /> <br />o Hydropower development at the Dewey site (approximately 2 <br />miles downstream from the confluence of the Colorado and <br />Dolores Rivers) would be precluded; <br /> <br />o The escalation in the rate at which federal lands are <br />being withdrawn; <br /> <br />-2- <br />