Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I' - - .. -, <br />t-j~:,:'.3~ <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />construction of the proposed water resource projects would greatly alter <br />the natural characteristics of the South Fork as it flows through the <br />western portion of the proposed wilderness area. ~n addition to greatly <br />altering the natural characteristics of the South Fork as it flows through <br />the proposed wilderness area, the proposed transbasin diversion of water <br />from the tVhite River into the Colorado River raises an important issue <br />concerning the best use of our water resources. <br /> <br />In view of the almost certain development of the oil shale and <br />coal resources of the \'fuite River basin, the staff of this board believes <br />that it would be a serious error for the state of Colorado to permit the <br />waters of the White River to be imported into another area. Inbasin use <br />of the waters of the White River can be made below the boundaries of the <br />proposed wilderness area. The staff strongly believes that the waters <br />of the White River should be left there for that purpose. The staff <br />also believes that the exclusion of the Meadows area from the proposed <br />wilderness boundaries is wholly incompatible with the wilderness des- <br />ignation for the upper and lower reaches of the South Fork. <br /> <br />It is therefore the staff recommendation that this board <br />approve the boundaries of the Flat Tops Wilderness area as proposed in <br />S. 702, with a further recommendation that the Meadows area of the South <br />Fork of the White River be included within the boundaries of the proposed <br />wilderness area. <br /> <br />FLS:mrn <br />Enclosures <br /> <br />Hemorandum <br /> <br />-5- <br /> <br />July 5, 1973 <br />