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"" if') ,.., C\! CHAPTER IV PLAN FORMULATION Three proposals have been made to enhance the basic concept of this plan environmentally. A big game management area would be established on Oak Ridge by the purchase of private land to be consolidated with public domain lands. Livestock grazing in this area would be curtailed or eliminated and an intensive range management program would be in- stituted by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The size of the area has been estimated at from 3,000 to 5,000 acres and the cost estimated at 1 to 2 million dollars. Access easements for fishing would be acquired along the North and South Forks of White River as well as the upper mainstem. These ease- ments would be compatible with a scenic or recreation river designation and could open an additional 20 miles of river to public fishing. Facilities for historic preservation would be constructed at the Thornburgh battle site. This would involve a small structure, housing educational displays and possibly featuring some mementos and artifacts. From an environmental standpoint, this alternative would help main- tain and even improve the fish and wildlife and other natural resource values of the Upper White River Valley with a program of positive action. It might allow coal and oil shale development, with their associated benefits and impacts, as the water resources might be developed by other entities to support these industries. Lake Avery would remain in its present state, a nonfluctuating fishing and recreation reservoir. Additional lands in Big Beaver Valley would not be inundated and landscape scars would not result in the North Fork, Big Beaver, and Little Beaver Valleys. Without the construction of Thornburgh Reservoir, coal interests on the north side of the Danforth Hills would have to look for another source of water. One alternative might be the acquisition of agricultural water rights with privately-constructed terminal storage. This, of course, would reduce the amount of irrigated crops produced in the Milk Creek area. On the south side of the Danforth Hills, the coal companies might also purchase some agricultural water rights for part of their needs. The anticipated needs for the coal industry in this area, however, are greater than the amount of water available from irrigation supplies. It has been suggested that a series of pumping plants could be con- structed on the White River by the coal industry to pump water to a terminal storage reservoir at the Coal Creek site. It has also been suggested that farmers along the discharge line might be able to purchase water for irrigation. The pumping plants would have to be sized to take advantage of peak streamflow periods, and storage facilities would have to be adequate to maintain a supply through low flow periods. 63