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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />R <br /> <br />. .~ ,...., <br />. 4 ~ l'" If). <br />"'....~.. <br /> <br />Report of the Regional Director <br /> <br />77. Normal uses of electric energy would expand rap- <br />idly in the power market area if not restricted by a limited <br />supply. Resource development would be encouraged if energy <br />were available in plentiful supply. <br /> <br />78. Floods in the Upper Arkansas Valley thre8ten the <br />loss of property and discourage investment. Sediment depo- <br />sition chokes channels, increases flood threats, and raises <br />maintenance costs of extensive irrigation systems. Stream <br />pollution threatens health and destroys fish habitat. <br />Flood, sediment, and pollution control would lower costs <br />and remove threats. <br /> <br />79. Recreational, fish, and wildlife resourCeS are <br />valuatle assets of Colorado and of the nation. These re- <br />sources should be protected and enhanced to the greatest <br />extent practicable. <br /> <br />80. Misuse of forests and ranges reduces production <br />and contributes to the sedinentQtion of streBms. Tailings <br />from mines add to the silt burden and pollution of other- <br />wise usable water supplies. Better management practices <br />and silt prevention methods should be encouraged. <br /> <br />81. The Initial Development of the Gunnison-Arkansas <br />Project would supply the most pressinrr and immediate needs <br />of the Upper Arkansas River Basin. <br /> <br />82. The diversion area has a plentiful supply of <br />water, part of which could feasibly be diverted without <br />detriment to that area or to downstream users. Although <br />all possible future water requirements for the entire West- <br />ern Slope have not been fully determined, it is concluded <br />that there is an adequate water supply from Colorado's <br />allocated share of the Colorado River Basin water for the <br />proposed Initial Development of the Gunnison-Arkansas Proj- <br />ect, Roaring Fork Diversion, over and above present and pro..- <br />~ctive consumptive uses within the natural basin of the <br />Colorado River in Colorado. Western Slope interests would be <br />protected by the Aspen Reservoir, by speclal provisions for <br />preservation of fish and wildlife, by equitable operation of <br />the project, and by assurance of non-interference in the. ...0 <br />use of the replacement facilities provided by the Colorado- <br />DQg Thompson Project. <br /> <br />83. The Initial Development is engineeringly feasible <br />and economically justified. It represents the minimum <br /> <br />34 <br />