Laserfiche WebLink
<br />settlement patterns. <br /> <br />Because of the large number of sites, an adequate cultural <br />resource recovery program will require as much as 4t of <br />the project's budget, well above the It ceiling mandated by <br />federal law for mitigation costs. According to the Definite <br />Plan Report for the project, the Bureau.of Reclamation will <br />be seeking Congressional authorization to exceed existing <br />limitations on the expenditures of nonreimbursable project <br />funds to mitigate loss and enhance cultural resources. <br /> <br />The cultural resources survey undertaken in 1975 for the <br />project area identified 46 prehistoric sites and 10 historic <br />sites that would be affected by the construction of the <br />project. The limited evidence available suggests that <br />the historic sites were not eligible for inclusion in the <br />Register at the time of the survey. <br /> <br />Under original project plans, the Bureau of Reclamation <br />was contemplating a visitor center to display and interpret <br />Anasazi Tradition. <br /> <br />The portion of the project area within the Ute Mountain <br />Ute Indian Reservation is currently listed in the National <br />Register of Historic places as part of the Ute Mountain <br />Ute Mancos Canyon Historic District. It is unclear what <br />impact the construction of the project will have on that <br />designation. <br /> <br />It is worth noting that the Mesa Verde National Park is <br />very nearby (ten miles east of Cortez, colorado) and could <br />possibly be impacted by any planned energy development since <br />it is a Class I air quality region. National Monuments at <br />Natural Bridges, Arches, Canyon de Chelly, Hovenweep, Yucca <br />House, and Aztec Ruins are also within a radius of about 100 <br />miles of the project area. <br /> <br />RECREATION AND TOURISM <br /> <br />The climate of the area is suitable for year-round <br />recreation and tourism. The winter provides plenty of snow <br />and abundant sunshine, bringing people from allover the <br />world to the ski areas of Purgatory and Telluride. The <br />summers are warm but not unbearable, with low humidity <br />and temperatures rarely exceeding 100 degrees. The summer <br />provides hikers, bikers, white water rafters, and golfers a <br />great opportunity to enjoy recreation in a bearable.climate. <br /> <br />The mountains of the area offer a wide variety of <br />recreational opportunities ranging from hunting, fishing, <br />hiking, white water rafting, camping, skiing, and biking. <br /> <br />26 <br />