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<br /> <br />002341 <br /> <br />, <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />5 <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />Channel ization of the 12-mi Ie section of the Rio Grande from the <br />mouth of the conveyance channel to 4 mi les downstream of the Conejos <br />River would result in the loss of 1,000 man-days of stream fishing. <br />It also would destroy prime wi ldlife habitat that would result in <br />a loss annually of 200 man-days of pheasant hunting, 200 man-days <br />of rabbit hunting, 500 man-days of waterfowl hunting, and the pro- <br />duct i on of 2,800 ducks. <br /> <br />To mitigate these project losses, land in the vicinity of Head Lake <br />should be acquired and developed as substitute habitat. Head Lake, <br />shown on P I ate II, is located about 1,5 mi les north of San Lui s <br />Lake. During normal years, it dries up and is of little value as <br />wildlife habitat. <br /> <br />About 2,200 acres of lands adjacent to Head Lake and along Sand <br />Creek between Head and San Luis Lakes as shown on Plate I I, all of <br />which are presently administered by the Colorado State Board of <br />Land Commissioners, should be made available to the Colorado Divi- <br />sion of Game, Fish and Parks for administration. Approximately <br />1,100 acres along the west side of this area would be conveyed to <br />the Unites States for the Closed Basin Division, San Luis Valley <br />Project. Likewise, easements or rights-of-way to the remaining <br />1,100 acres of land should be conveyed to the United States for the <br />Project. <br /> <br />Water could be provided by constructing a connecting channel about <br />one mile long between the main conveyance channel of the Closed <br />Basin Division, San Luis Valley Project, and Head Lake. It would <br />have a capacity of 20 second-feet. Water would be routed through <br />Head Lake, di$charged into Sand Creek and thence into San Luis Lake <br />for return through the equalizing channel between San Luis Lake and <br />the main conveyance channel. With a control structure, Head Lake <br />could be maintained at a constant elevation and would be about 100 <br />acres in area. <br /> <br />Within this management area, waterfowl would receive the major con- <br />sideration in the development of ponds and marshes. However, <br />upland-game habitat also would be improved in conjunction with this <br />development. Low dikes would be built along Sand Creek to form <br />70 acres in four shallow ponds for waterfowl production and resting <br />areas. Small is lands and nesting platforms would be constructed <br />throughout the marsh areas and on Head Lake for waterfowl production. <br />Suitable cover plants would be planted in the area and thus further <br />improve the habitat for both waterfowl and upland game. <br />