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~_. -;.:. water season (less than 60 cfs flows). 111e BLM is currently in lhe foul1h year of a tive-year study of recreational use on the Dolores River. l1\ough floating pem1its arc issued for (ow water season use, it was detennined to wait untillhe completion of the study to ancmpt to stringently regulate Use of thc river during this period. Recl:unation made a commitment in the OPR (p. (06) nod in the FES (pp. A-31 nnd 0-4) to provide flows for whicewater boating by managing water excess to the Project. This was to be accomplished by grouping releases in periods of five cr more consecutive days, nnd by notifying the public prior to these releases. Reclamation meets annually in the spring with outfitters and members of the public to publicize the operating plan for the coming runoff season.. In recent years, concerns have been expressed by the public about the accuracy of .these flow predictions. 111ese concerns often center on the fact that more water is released fora longer period than previously announced, and floating opportunities are thus foregone, a situation particularly bothersome to commercial rafters. DEVELOPED RECREATION AREAS The Lone Dome Recreation Area extends along the river from McPhee Dam to the area of the BLM campground near Bradfield Bridge. It was established as mitigation for construction of the dam. Land ownership in the Recreation Area is a mixture of private, CDOW, USFS, BLM and Reclamation. There are four recreation sites within the Recreation Area: Metaska, Ferris Canyon, Cabin Canyon and Bradfield Bridge (see Figure 2). The first three are administered by a concessionaire under the direction of the USFS; Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site is administered by the BLM, along with the associated rafting access point. All but Metaska feature campgrounds. HIKING, BICYCLING, HORSEBACK RIDING, PHOTOGRAPHY AND NATURE WATCHING Hiking occurs on the upper reach in conjunction with fishing. The areas near the campgrounds are also used heavily by hikers. While some bicycling occurs at present, this activity may increase in the future. No special provisions, such as trails, have been made to accommodate cyclists using this section of the river_ The Snaggletoorh Mountain Bike Trail spans 26 miles from the Dove Creek Pump Plant to Siick Rock, Colorado. This trail is considered one of the outstanding intennediate trails in southwest Colorado, and is the focus .of an annual mounrain bike event. The section from Bradfield Bridge to about flve miles downstream is becoming more heavily used by hikers and horseback riders. These activities are most often connected with fishing; and, increasingly, are conducted by guides. These activities do not occur with frequency in the lower stretch because of the difficulty of access; the area is remote and vehicle access points are few. Photography, especially of nature, is related to general enjoyment of the natural surroundings present along the entire Dolores River corridor. These activities are components of most camping trips and float trips, and are sometimes the primary attraction for recreation visitors. As indicated earlier, the setting and scenery of the Dolores Canyon are aesthetically re warding, and may offer one of the most scenic floating opportunities in the nation. WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STATUS The Dolores River Wild and Scenic River Study Repon recommended that 10S mile, of the Dolore, River from the approximate location of McPhee Dam to Bedrock be designated a component of the National System of Wild and Scenic Rivers, with the following segments proposed for classification: I. From 1.3 miles below McPhee Dam site to Bradfield Bridge (II mile,) . Recreational 2. Bradfield Bridge to Disappointment Creek (41 miles) . Scenic ). Disappoinlment Creek 10 Liltle Gypsum Valley Gridge (20 mile,) . Recreational 4. Linle Gypsum Valley Oridge to I mile upStream from Oedrock Bridge (32 miles) . Wild 39