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" -~ '.". ..::.. ...., :~o Z:SoS " . . 4 '\ The Rio Grande is a poor trout stream from the mouth of La Jara Creek to the Colorado-New Mexico State line. Upstream diversions seriously dewater the stream during the late summer months. Dur- ing the months of August, September, and October flows average only about 50 second-feet at the Lobatos Gage, 6 mi les above the State line. Extremes of record at the gage from June 1899 to 1968 have varied from zero flows for short periods in 1950, 1951, and 1956, to a maximum of 13,000 second-feet. Other than these three low-flow years the minimum flow has averaged 26 second-feet. With- out the project, fishing on this 32-mile reach would be 1,000 man- days annua 11 y. In New Mexico the 76 miles of the Rio Grande from the State line to the mouth of the Rio Chama generally are fished quite heavi ly despite the fact that most of the stream is inaccessible due to steep canyon walls or the lack of roads. About 50 miles of this reach have been designated as a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System by The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (82 Stat. 906- 918). Fishing on the 76 miles of the Rio Grande within New Mexico would average about 15,500 man-days annually. With the Project San Luis Lake would become more manageable as a cold-water fishery due to the constant inflow of cold water and stable elevation with a surface area varying from 860 to 900 acres. Suitable species of fish would be stocked in the lake by the Colorado Division of Game, Fish and Parks. Fishing over the period of analysis can be expected to average about 15,000 man-days annually. In some places the main conveyance channel would be bordered only by stunted vegetation. Such a setting would not attract large num- bers of fishermen. With a compacted earth lining, the channel would not produce aquatic organisms in sufficient quantities to sustain a satisfactory fish population. The channel could be man- aged only as a put-and-take cold-water fishery on a limited basis. If stocked with catchable-sized trout, average annual fishing on the 39 miles of channel can be expected to total 2,000 man-days annually. Project operation would increase the flows of the Rio Grande down- stream from the mouth of the conveyance channel by a minimum of 100 second-feet. The minimum flow would be increased from 26 second-feet to 126 second-feet and the average flow would increase from 50 second- feet to 150 second-feet from August through October. The Rio Grande