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. . . L 9~;3 v. RECREATION SIGNIFICANCE The Narrows Reservoir will offer water-oriented recreation oppor- tunities to a great many people who otherwise have limited similar outlets, Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake, both Bureau of Reclamation projects about 90 miles west of the Narrows site, provide the public with the same activities that can be expected at the new area. However, drawdowns on Horsetooth Reservoir and Carter Lake are extremely severe and detrimental to recreation. Narrows Reservoir would be a more stable body of water. Other reservoirs in the Fort Morgan area are Jackson, Riverside, Empire, and Bijou No.2. All contain little or no public land for recrea- tion development, and drawdowns are not too compatible with recreation purposes. The demand for water-oriented recreation in this part of Colorado is great enough to include the activities proposed for the Narrows Reservoir and will not measurably reduce visitation at the other existing reservoirs. There are no National Park Service areas affected by the proposed reservoir. Day use activities such as picnicking, boating, water Skiing, swimming, sightseeing, hiking, and horseback riding should be available to the public. Also, provision should be made for overnight camping, group camp development, and a concession operation. Some facilities should be available for fishermen use, especially in the upper reaches of the reservoir. The facilities necessary for the mentioned activities are considered to be the initial recreation development. A seasonal cabin area should nut be considered as a recreation objective, in view of the uncertainty of the Department's cabin policy and the lack of adequate recreation land for the function. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife anticipates heavy fishing and hunting if their recommendations are followed, An estimated 125,000 man-days of fishing, 66,500 man-days of hunting, and 5,000 man-days of wildlife-oriented recreation could be expected annually in the vicir,i ty of Narro;ffi P,eservoir. This would adequately justify the development of access points. An estimated 340,000 annual recreation days are forecast for the reservoir when recreation facilities described later in this report are provided on sufficient recreation land. This estimate is based on the 1960 census of the influenced area and is a logical and conservative figure. P,m:ple <:>ousideratiou was given to the visitor drawing appeal of the Rocky Mountains, other existing outdoor recreation opportunities in the vicinity, the local significance of the reservoir, and the establishment of a good fishery at the reservoir in determining the visitor day 8