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<br />NATIONAL PARK SERVICE REPORl' <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />In accordance with the inter-bureau agreement between Region 4, <br />Bureau of Reclamation, and Region Three, National Park Service, the <br />latter agency was requested by letter of October 9, 1947, to review and <br />report upon the recreational potential inherent in the Lenon Reservoir, <br />Florida Project, Colorado, as currently proposed by the Bureau of <br />Reclamation. <br /> <br />Included in a "Survey of the Recreational Resources of the Colorado <br />River Basin" was an earlier "Report of the Recreational Aspects of Lemon <br />Reservoir Sites, Florida Project" prepared in July 1943 by the National <br />Park Service. <br /> <br />Subsequent to field investigations made at that time by Recreational <br />Planner Paul V. Brown, a further reconnaissance of the site was made in <br />June 1948 by Park Planner R. D. Sias in connection with the current re- <br />port. <br /> <br />SUlllIllary of Findings and Conclusions <br /> <br />1. From a recreational viewpoint, the impounding of the Florida <br />River at the proposed Lemon site would destroy much that is most attrac- <br />tive in a mountain streBJll landscape. In fact, it is believed that the <br />interference of the natural flow of the mountain stream by artificial <br />impoundment, and the great fluctuation in the still-water elevation <br />that would be caU8ed by the reservoir operations, would prove detri- <br />mental not only to the 8cenic character of the valley but to the exi8t- <br />ing recreational value& of the streBJll through the reservoir area. <br /> <br />2. There appoars to llc little recreational advc.ntage in estClblishing <br />still-water in this particular valley as the Vallecito Reservoir in the <br />immediate vicinity can better provide for this type of recreation. <br /> <br />3. National Park Servi.ce archeologist8 are of the opinion that <br />it is unlikely archeological sites occur in the Lemon Reservoir area. <br /> <br />4. Impounding of water at the Lemon site would have no effect on <br />any National park Service area or State park. <br /> <br />5. If the project is approved for irrigation purposes under the <br />current plan of operation there would be little necessity to consider <br />development for recreation. The area could be left open for possible <br />fishing and incidental recreational use. <br />