<br />GUNNISON COUNTRY TIMES, GUNNISON, COLORADO
<br />SEPTEMBER 20, 1976
<br />
<br />PRIMARY IMP ACTS on mule deer wo~ld oe related to ""
<br />significant loss of habitat in ncwly irrigated lands in the ,I,\J '"
<br />Fruitland Mesa area, an interference with movements, and' · l
<br />by a potentially serious contlict with the agricultural in- -
<br />dustry, the DES says.
<br />Pheasants, Gambel's quail. coltontail rabbits, and,
<br />mourning doves would benefit from the increased acreage
<br />of irrigated cropland that the project would provide. The ~"
<br />Fish a!ld Wildlife Service estimated that man-days of ~,
<br />upland game hunting would double from 200 to 400 with "'4'
<br />the project. \\ ~,
<br />,.
<br />The Fruitland Mesa Project would inundate 85 acres of
<br />the West Elk New Study Area and would change the
<br />character of the acres from open sagebrush park to flat
<br />, water.
<br />"There are no plans for construction ()f rOll.ds,
<br />, recreational facilities, or other structures in the New Study
<br />Area outside thewithdra wn area," however.
<br />The DES also notes that the improved road up Soap
<br />Creek would provide better access to the West Elk Wilder-
<br />ness, but the hike still required to reach the wilderness
<br />would prObably discourage a great increase in total annual
<br />visits.
<br />Ted Tomasi of the Colorado Open Space Council, a
<br />strong advocate of wilderness areas, said he is not overly
<br />concerned with the loss of the 85 acres, but is concerned
<br />with the probable secondary Impacts of the project.
<br />Specifically, loss of the elk calving grounds, loss of deer
<br />winter range in the Fruitland Mesa area and the improved
<br />road to Soap Park and the proposed recreational facilities, ('
<br />which will lead to more people in the area.
<br />l. Tomasi said he does not see the benefits reaped from
<br />more irrigation and the resulting increased crop produc-
<br />. lion as' oveiridinr the losses from the project, because
<br />"C . there is already ar. excess in crop production on a nation-
<br />. wide scale.
<br />. Tomasi contends, that in the past, the Bureau of
<br />Reclamation served a function in regard to. reclamation
<br />projects, but has since darned up rivers and streams
<br />needlesslv.
<br />.
<br />". see it (Fruitland Mesa Project) as another pork barrel
<br />.' project." '
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<br />Elk will be affected-but to what utent is unknown
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