WSP04977

• File Number: 8543.400
• Description: Projects in the Closed Basin Division - Reports
• State: CO
• Basin: Rio Grande
• Water Division: 3
• Date: 3/1/1985
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

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as we used in bur report for the northern part of the refuge, the
551 acres of wetlands produces about 72 ducks annually, at the
present time. Under Refuge Management it is expected that annual
duck production would increase to about 644 birds - an increase
of about 572 birds. There woul-i also be a ,corresponding increase
in goose production and use by shorebirds and wading birds 6n the
improved wetlands.

The table
of we 11
ranch.

below compares the relative values of the 800 acre-feet
water to the purchase of the 847 acres of the Lillpop

Feature

Wetlands Ducks Other Man days Annual
Produced'" Produced'" Water-bird of waterfowl net
, Use'" (use- hunting Benefits
days)
536 . 520 21,440 102 $ 969.00

800 A.F. of
Well water

Purchase of
Li11pop
Ranch

551

.572

22,040

112 '.

$1,064.00

*Personal communication, Jon Kauffeld, Asst. Refuge Manager
(Biologist, Alamosa/Monte Vista NWR)

As can be seen from the above, it is estimated that the purchase
of the Lillpop ranch in lieu of the transfer of 80.0 acre-feet of
well water would result-in the developement of 15 additional
acres of hi~h quality wetlands, the annual produqtion of about 52
ducks, and.' about 600 additional use-days for other water birds.
The 52 additional ducks produced could be expected to support an
additional ;10 man-days of hunting with annual net bE;mefits of
$95~OO.

"',

In addition to the. benefits briefly described above, the proposed
acquisition of 847 acres of the Lillpop ranch will enable Alamosa
NWR to achieve refuge objectives for increased waterfowl
production and increased wildlife use. Water management on
Alamosa NWR will be greatly facilitated by total ownership of the
Ch~cago' Ditch water. rights - the major source 9f'~~Stt~or both
t~~ refuge and the L1l1pop property. '. L \,

Another unquantifiable benefit which can be attributed to the
purchase of the Lillpop ranch is the preservation of the
Emperious' Estate in its present condition. As previously
described, the original proposal was to transfer 800 acre-feet of
well rights from the Emperious Estate to Alamosa NWR. However,
under the present proposal, all of the adjudicated well rights
would remain on the Emperious Estate, thus maintaining the
resource value of the land. Perhaps at some future date, this
land could be managed by a resource agency as a wildlife area,