Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />,I h~n~~ <br />'...... eo, .,.~ <br /> <br />Other statements contained in the Department's comments on the <br />Smith Fork Project preliminary application addressed the fact that <br />"even if the wild and scenic river study did not result in a <br />designation of this segment of the Gunnison, our Bureau of Land <br />Management has two additional' obligations under the Federal Land <br />Policy and Management Act of 1976. First, it would have to review <br />the Gunnison Gorge Recreation Lands withdrawal for continuation of <br />that land status. Second, BLM would have to review the same area <br />as a potential wilderness if the recreation withdrawal were to be <br />terminated, because it contains roadless areas of more than 5,000 <br /> <br />acres. II <br /> <br />Fruitland Mesa Project. The Bureau of Reclamation's authorized <br />Fruitland Mesa Project would irrigate lands in Montrose and Delta <br />Counties, east of the study area. Return flows from the project <br />would enter the river via Smith Fork and Crystal Creek in Red <br />Canyon: While the return flows would carry relatively concentrated <br />volumes of leached salts, the small total flows of t,hese tributaries <br />would ,be diluted by the Gunnison without serious downstream <br />",I' <br />effects ;on water quality. <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife <br /> <br />Within the study corridor fish and wildlife are relatively abundant <br />and quite diverse. Five basic habitat types provide, food and <br />shelter for big game mammals such as elk and deer, small game <br />mammals, fur-bearers, a host of nongame birds and mammals, and a <br />large number of game birds and waterfowl. Raptors are relatively <br />abundant, and several species are represented. Various <br />amphibians, reptiles, and several game and nongame fishes are also <br />present. <br /> <br />97 <br /> <br />,- <br />