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<br />.~4_ 042;) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />We believe the Final E,I.S, to be in derogation of the National <br />Environmental Policy Act and the C.E.Q. guidelines, ~ 1500,8 (a) <br />(1 thru 8), The following represent specific comments and de- <br />ficiencies in the Final report with respect to'the C.E.Q, guidelines: <br /> <br />1. Ruedi Reservoi r <br /> <br />The Ruedi Reservoir was selected as a replacement for the originally <br />proposed Aspen Dam site in 1962, It's purpose is to provide flexi- <br />bility of exchanges for the protection of downstream senior rights <br />during times of diversion in the Frying Pan system. The E. I ,5. is <br />subject to serious criticism and perhaps challenge due to the follow- <br />ing facts: <br /> <br />A. Ruedi is presented as a recreational benefit when in fact <br />there are not plans to use it as such. (CEQ 1500.8 (a) (1,2,3,5,8)) <br />The recreational benefits of Ruedi are part of the benefit pack- <br />age of teh system and were probably part of the sales program during <br />congressional reviews. The Bureau of Reclamation has no plans for <br />the long term use of Ruedi for recreation. This is verified in <br />various portions of the report as indicated: <br /> <br />1. On p, II - 165 "The water yield of Ruedi Reservoir <br />not a11ocat"d to replaremer t, \/i 11 be available for other <br />uses in western Colorado -- Until Western Colorado use is <br />developed, it is planned to operate the reservoir to maxi- <br />mize the flood control and recreational benefits except <br />as reGuired for project replacement purposes. <br /> <br />2. Fig. II - 51 identifies current reservoir regime <br />as "interim". <br /> <br />3, On p, 1II-142, Ruedi is highlighted ,as a recreational <br />resource "... provides for public use including boating, <br />water skiing, fishing above and below the dam, picknicking <br />and general relaxationo <br /> <br />4. Ruedi will have a guaranteed minimum pool of 1,089 A,Fo <br />with a surface coverage of 108 acres (p. V-IS) as opposed <br />to a conservation pool of 100,000 A.F. and 997 acres of sur- <br />face area. This certainly makes recreation an infeasible <br />long run use for Ruedi. This also presents the potential <br />of the presence of 839 acres of "foreshore" or land to <br />exist alte~nati':€':1 as nJud flat or dust flat. He E.l,S. <br />is critically deficient in not evaluating the ima~ct of such <br />fluctu2tions on: <br /> <br />a) recreation visitations and <br />b) inmediate environmental impacts of drawdowno <br /> <br />5. Further evidence of the lack of plans for long term <br />recreation is found on p. VII-2 "much of the water stored <br />in Ruedi Reservoir will eventually be committed for West <br />Slope purposes other than recreation. <br /> <br />-2- <br />