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<br />O~,1946 <br /> <br />Effects of project <br />4:3. Beavers are the only fur animal which will be significantly <br />affected by the Eagle-Arkansas project. Reduction of stream.flows, <br />especially high spring flows, I,;ill eliminate water necessary to sus- <br />tain ponds and beaver habitat in side channels and wetland areas adja- <br />cent to the main streams. The lower flows, however, will permit beavers <br />to build more dams on the main streams and thus create additional habi- <br />tat to replace some of that which is lost. This applies particularly <br />to the lower reaches of Homestake Creek. Nevertheless, the habitat <br />replaced will not equal the existing environment and the overall effect <br />will be to reduce the number of beavers. In addition, the proposed <br />reservoir will inundate occupied beaver habitat on, and upstream from, <br />Homestake lake. Because of fluotuating water levels and steep, rooky <br />banks, the ;r:'eservoir will not provide .favorable habitat for beaver. <br /> <br />DISCUSSION <br /> <br />~lsherv <br /> <br />Importance <br /> <br /> <br />44, About 56 miles of valuable trout stream fishery and the <br /> <br /> <br />fishery of Homestake Lake will be impaired or destroyed by the Eagle- <br /> <br /> <br />Arkansas project. The value of this area is reflected by the overall <br /> <br /> <br />good quality of its aquatic habitat, its moderate to abundant popula- <br /> <br /> <br />tions of four species of trout, ,and the attraction it has for fishermen <br /> <br /> <br />f'.rom me.n;y parts of Colorado and other states. Many fine camping areas <br /> <br /> <br />are located on Homestake Lake and Homestake Creek. During the summer <br /> <br />14 <br /> <br />;, <br /> <br />