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<br />STATE OF COLORADO John A. love. Governor
<br />DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
<br />
<br />DePARTMeNT Of NATURAL
<br />RESOuRCES
<br />
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<br />E'l'(ur,VI' D"l!Clor
<br />
<br />DIVISION OF GAME, FISH AND PARKS
<br />
<br />Hal ry R. WOl...l1\.....,lrd. 0lr~cl('"lr
<br />
<br />GAMI, 11',11 ^~Jll PAPKS
<br />(nMMI.'.',ION
<br />
<br />August 7, 1970
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<br />6060 Broadw.1Y Dt>nvp.r. Color-"da 80216 825-1192
<br />
<br />Mr. Charles L. Hipp, Chief
<br />Engineering Division
<br />U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
<br />7410 U. S. Post Office and Court House
<br />- Omaha, Nebraska 68102
<br />
<br />Dea r Mr. Hipp:
<br />
<br />We have reviewed your detailed statement of the environmental
<br />impact of the Bear Creek Dam and Reservoir Project, Denver,
<br />Colorado. The statement is general, consequently, our comments
<br />must be general rather than detailed. The Division has worked rather
<br />closely with the Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries
<br />and Wildlife and the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation in the preparation
<br />of recommendations for land acquisition and development of Bear
<br />Creek Dam and Reservoir. Additionally, we have been designated the
<br />administering agency.
<br />
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<br />
<br />Bear Creek and Turkey Creek are not only subject to severe water
<br />depletion by irrigation diversions but also periodic flooding. Combined,
<br />these physical limitations provide only a marginal habitat for the establish-
<br />ment and maintenance of a fishery.
<br />
<br />The proposed construction of the "beltline" freeway, Interstate 1-470,
<br />should be delayed until an actual need for the freeway is demonstrated; to
<br />date this is a rather controversial issue. Should a study indicate the
<br />need, the location should be considered carefully and should not in any
<br />way encroach, either physically or esthetically, on the Bear Creek Reser-
<br />voir area.
<br />
<br />The impoundment created by Bear Creek Dam can sustain an adequate
<br />fishery including rainbow'trout providing the Division stocks the Reservoir
<br />periodically with "catchable" size rainbow on a "put-and-take" basis. The
<br />fishery will undoubtedly be supplemented with a pan-fish fishery.
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