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Dallas Creek Project, Colorado (BR) -14- In summarization, the net effect of the Dallas Creek Project on fishery resources, without modification for fishery purposes, will be to decrease stream fishing by 2,770 man-days annually and increase flat-water reservoir fishing by 32,900 man-days annually. Project impacts on fishery resources are tabulated in Table II. Project Impacts on Wildlife Project impacts on mule deer, direct and indirect, will occur in the belt of winter habitat on the west valley area. The new irrigated lands developed by the project will eliminate 2,360 acres of this winter range by conversion to agricultural use. Ridgway Reservoir and appurtenant development will eliminate approximately 1,420 acres of winter range for deer. The portion of the proposed Grand View development on Log Hill Mesa that will be supplied project water will convert native range to residential and recreational use. This conversion will eliminate 420 acres of deer winter habitat. Other detrimental project impacts will be exhibited by: (1) physical impediment of deer migrations by project features; Ridgway Reservoir and Dallas Feeder Canal, and the belt development of agricultural and residential lands on the west slope of the valley; (2) increased deer-automobile collisions caused by the relocation of Highway 550 higher on the east valley slope bisecting winter ranges. A very high rate of deer kill by automobiles presently occurs near Chaffee Gulch; (3) a reduction in native habitat and an increase in agricultural lands will cause an increase in deer-crop depredation problems for the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Dallas Creek Project induced development in the Uncomphagre Valley will also impact the mule deer population. Growth of the human population will result from project development through new industrial employment opportunities. This population growth will cause residential expansion in the valley, some of which will occur in deer wintering range. Additionally, more people living in the valley will bring about increased hunting pressure on deer populations. Data is not presently available wherein all of these impacts on the deer population can be measured. A loss of elk habitat will result from the development of project canals and associated service roads but it is not expected that the impact on the elk population will be significant.