WSP00718

• File Number: 8220.116.I
• Description: Fruitland Mesa Project
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 10/7/1976
• Title: Public Hearing - Draft Environmental Statement - Crawford-Colorado October 7-1976 - ‎(Part 2 of 2)‎
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

25

38

,

MODERATOR: Thank you, i1r. Christopher.

2 Dr. Tarr, if you would now like to present the state-

3 ment of Dr. Bruce Bartleson, we would be happy to hear it.

4

DR. TARR: I have a letter from Dr. Bruce L. Bart1eso .

5 The original schedule is misspelled a little bit. He is a

6 professor of geology at Western State College. He has apolog zed

7

and asked me to convey the apology, that his last statement 0
the last paragraph in his letter is erroneous to some degree
and that he had missed the specific entry in the Draft EIS.

8

9

10
11

':~,

I'll read the letter.

12

"I would like to comment on the geological aspects

of the Fruitland Mesa Project, especially concerning the Soap

13 Park dam site and ~le Blue Mesa tunnel. I feel qualified to

14

comment on these aspects since I am a professor of geology

at \vestern State College and have been here for over eleven

15

16

years.

Further, I was a member of a U.S. GeOlogical Survey

17

team that evaluated the mineral potential of the West Elk

18
Wilderness Area in the summers of 1971, 1972 and 1973. I
19
have. spent some time doing geOlogic mapping in the area.

20

First, I would like to emphasize the extreme lands lid

21

22

potential that is found in Big Soap Park and Little Soap Park
Although ~lis is discussed in the Draft Environmental Stateme t,
I feel that the Bureau has greatly understated the hazard.
Both areas are absolutely full of old landslide scars and are.
indeed great complexes of old slump systems. 'l'he fluctuating

23

24