WSPC02961

• File Number: 7630.285
• Description: Wild and Scenic - General
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 8/31/1983
• Author: CWCB
• Title: Status of Colorado Wild and Scenic River Studies - As of August 1983
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

(II) 24', 3

o Wildli fe habitat should be managed or enhanced to support
larger wildlife populations,

o Management activities should not alter the natural beauty
of the Piedra River.

o Known historic and cultural resources should be
protected,

o Recreation use controls are needed to prevent overuse and
degradation of the river environment.

Study Team Recommendation

Three alternatives for designation were formulated and
considered by the study team. The alternatives ranged from
designation of all eligible segments of the river, with
the most restrictive classification for which each segment is
suitable, to no designation of any river s'egment. The
Federal/State study team recommended designation of 50.9 miles of
river as follows:

o Lower piedra (Colorado Highway 160 to Indian Creek)
approximately 5,5 miles as recreational river.

o piedra Canyons (Indian Creek to Forest Development Road
631) -- approximately 14.7 miles as wild river.

o Piedra Middle (FDR 631 to the confluence of the Forks,
thence upstream to the Weminuche Wilderness boundary on
both the Middle Fork and East Fork) -- approximately 12.9
miles as scenic river.

o Middle Fork (Weminuche Wilderness boundary up to and
including the seven unnamed drainages along the
Continental Divide that comprise the headwaters)
approximately 9.3 miles as wild river.

o East Fork (Weminuche Wilderness boundary up to the
unnamed ponds one-quarter mile below the Continental
Divide) -- approximately 8.5 miles as wild river,

See attached map for reach locations.

Impacts of Designation (from Study Report)

o Natural or near natural river values would be protected
for 50.9 miles (16,300 acres) of the piedra River,

o The proposed O'Neal irrigation and hydro-electric project
would be foreclosed.

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