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<br />IV. <br /> <br />V. <br /> <br />VI. <br /> <br />VII. <br /> <br />V III. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />SUb~~~~ogect to John Martin Reservoir and the value of the grazing <br />lease agreement with Mr. Dean might be considered in the evaluation <br />of comparable fish and wildlife values since they are values derived <br />from the subject project. This approach appears logical even though <br />the actions did not receive advance Federal Aid approval. <br /> <br />Siqnificance of the \~ork: Project lands do contribute to the pro- <br />duction and pUblic utilization of small game species and, to a very <br />limited degree, antelope. Native vegetation provides wildlife food <br />and cover. The grazing of cattle as part of the lease agreement does <br />not appear to be detremental to the production of wildlife, The pro- <br />ject area has no fishery values on the site and is significant only <br />to the extent that the transferred water rights do contribute to <br />fishery values at John Martin Reservoir. <br /> <br />Suoervision: Project supervision has taken place to the extent that <br />the project activities addressed above have taken place. Supervision <br />was inadequate in the past at the appropriate level responsible for <br />providing documents to Federal Aid for action relative to the trans- <br />fer of property rights, Current levels of supervision to rectify <br />past inadequacies are commendable. <br /> <br />Problems: The problems of the loss of fish and wildlife benefits are <br />dlscussed above. Although compensated to a limited degree with the <br />"utilization" of water rights in a downstream reservoir and an expan- <br />sion of hunting privileges, via a land use change agreement, the pro- <br />blem of correcting discrepancies remains to be resolved. <br /> <br />Recommendations: The land exchange action approved by the Commission <br />appears to be an equable solution to the current problem. An <br />exchange of deeds with the Dean Land and Cattle Company has the posi- <br />tive benefits of continued fish and wildlife management on lands <br />already managed by the Division and familiar to a sigment of the <br />fishing and hunting public. Also, the Division would retain per- <br />petual fishing and hunting rights on the Seetchfield Lake property <br />they are relinquiShing in fee title and a 10-year hunting lease on an <br />additional 6,000 acre parcel of land. thus, this course of action is <br />recommended. <br /> <br />Conclusion: Fee title to the suject property should be relinquished <br />because the project has lost fishesry benefits. The official action <br />of the COIrmission to exchange the subject property for lands and <br />privileges already under management by the Division appears to be an <br />equitable solution to regain lost fish and wildife benefits at the <br />Stechfield site. Thus, the division should be requested to establish <br />comparable fish and wildlife values and submit formal docL.l11entation <br />toward an exchange of land with the Dean Land and Cattle Company as <br />approved by the Commission. <br />