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<br />., <br /> <br />00198'2 <br /> <br />"The project area is located in the southern portion of <br />Colorado within the boundary of the White River National Forest. <br />The propos cd divcrsicn "arks aro sH".'!tod Emtirely wi thin the <br />high mountains and plateau rcgion, adjacent to thc divide, at <br />elevations averaging 10,000 feet. They involve the colluction <br />of water in the upper reaches of the vmtersheds of Fryingpan <br />River o.nd Hunter Creek, tributaries of the Roaring Fork River, <br />and diversion to the ,'.rkansas River Valley through the Conti- <br />nental Divide for the production of pOVlGr and for irrigation. <br /> <br />"The Fryingpan region is distinguish~d by a series of <br />high forested ridges; intervening tributary canyons) typical <br />mountain r:1ead017Sf and rushing streams. 1.1 though the area is <br />attractive scenically, it does not possess any noteworthy, out- <br />standing, or 1ll1ique features in this respect. HmfGvcr, the <br />combination of such qualities as scenic attractiveness, wilder- <br />ness chv.racter, remoteness, and the excellence of its y:aters <br />for fishing makes it an inportant natu~al rccrca~ional area. <br />Access into this rcgion is provided by Statc hov.d No. 104 <br />which follows the main stem of the Pryingpan ;o.'Jer to the <br />upper reaches of its watershed. ~long this road are located <br />several guest ranches, cabin casps, a'1d lodges which depend <br />on attractions of the Fryingpan arev. for support, TvTO Forest <br />Service campgrounds and a colony of SUIlmOr hOL~s are also <br />si tuated along the stream adjacent to the road. HO\'lever" <br />the grcater part of the upper Fryingpan re~~on is ~cc8ssible <br />only by trails. This is apparcntly a reason that the upper <br />drainage area has remained in its prescmt natural state 0 <br /> <br />"Residents of Colorado rely on the excellence of the <br />fishing and hunting resources of the Fryingpan area for <br />vacation and vreekend activities, and indications are that <br />an increasing nuober of vacationists are being attracted to <br />this area. It is estimatcd by the ~ish and Wildlife Scrvice <br />thd approximatcly l8,500 fishernan-days are spent annually <br />along the 62 Dilcs of the Fryingpan River belm" the proposed <br />diversion system and that big-gaQS hunting in the project <br />area on the wostern slope involvcs 10,000 hunter days. It <br />appears that the region of the uppcr tributaries of the <br />Fryingpan and Roaring Fork tliver watersheds is one of thc <br />few remaining natural areas in the Colorado Mckies, exccpt <br />those incorporated in the wilderness aro~s or national <br />parks, which has not boen invaded by tho developDent of <br />roads, @ines, or other installations to the extent of <br />impairing its natural character. :,lthough the actual sj,ze <br />of tho potential diversion area is onl:l' about 50,000 acres, <br />it is of sufficient import~ce rccreaticnally and sceni- <br />cally to warrant protection of these resources.n <br /> <br />-10- <br />