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<br />PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION
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<br />The proposed ac tion is to trade 2,438.08 acres of shortgrass prairie grazing
<br />land, with a dry lake site, for 920 acres of Purgatoire River bottom, 20 acres
<br />of a public use shooting facili ty, and 10 years of public access to 6,000
<br />acres of land. In addition, public use would be retained, in perpetuity, on
<br />the Division of Wildlife's Setchfield property in the proposed fee title ex-
<br />change of private land, presently owned by the Dean Land and Cattle Company.
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<br />The Se tchfield property, also previously known as the Carey Dam Fish and Game
<br />Management Area, was acquired by warranty deed from various owners between
<br />1957 and 1965. At that time 13,425 acre feet of storage waters existed, and
<br />were utilized, to provide a lake and public fishery on the Division of Wild-
<br />life (DOW) administered property. In 1965 a flood breached and destroyed the
<br />dam, causing a total loss of water, fish and, thereby, the majority of the
<br />public use the property was originally intended to provide.
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<br />Feasibility studies, for dam reconstruction, demonstrated that costs were pro-
<br />hibitive for the anticipated benefits, the dam, therefore, was not reconstruct-
<br />ed. To salvage the lost fishing benefits the legal storage rights were trans-
<br />ferred downstream to John Martin Reservoir, included within the John Martin
<br />State Wildlife Area, also administered by DOW and open for public use. The
<br />storage rights are presently being used to supplement the minimum pool, to
<br />support the fishery.
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<br />The 920 acre tract, proposed for acquisition, is presently being utilized by
<br />recreationists through an exchange of use agreement with Dean Land and Cattle
<br />Company. The agreement allows the cattle company to graze livestock on the
<br />Setchfield tract in return for public fishing, hunting, birdwatching, etc. on
<br />Dean's land. By exchanging the lands in fee title, while retaining public use
<br />on the Setchfield tract, no loss of recreation would occur. By acquiring com-
<br />plete control of the 920 acre Dean tract, the DOW will be able to increase
<br />wildlife and public use. This increase will be realized by enhancement of
<br />habitats such as deepening of ponds and planting of habitats.
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<br />The Dean land is in the immediate vicinity of the John Martin project area.
<br />Administration of property and enhancement of habitats would be more feasible
<br />than with the isolated Setchfield tract. The Dean land is likewise closer to
<br />public facilities, such as metropolitan centers, public services and major
<br />highways. The Purgatoire riverbottom is also, naturally, more utilized by
<br />wildlife than the Setchfield tract, and has substantially more potential for
<br />fish and wildlife habitat improvement.
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<br />The primary objectives of the Setchfield Federal Aid project are presently not
<br />being met. The fishery and associated wildlife and public use; s were lost
<br />when the dam washed out. The transfer of water rights have salvaged some of
<br />these losses. Acquisition of the Dean land would recoup these losses and fur-
<br />ther align the primary objectives of the Federal Aid project. This land trade
<br />would satisfy the formal action proposed, and follow recommendations made by,
<br />John P. Hardister "in his trip report referencing FW-3-L of January 15, 1981-
<br />Refer to correspondence to Jack R. Grieb, Director of the Colorado Division of
<br />Wildlife from Charles E. Lane, Jr., Assistant Regional Director, Federal
<br />Assistance, dasted Febrauray 17, 1981 (attachment).
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