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r-' .... :'"\.-: ~ <: \; .. ..~. J ~; .l. 5 satisfactory ,fish population. The channel could be managed only as a put-and-takecold-water fishery on a limited basis, If stocked with catchable-sized trout. average annual fishing on the 39 miles of channel could be_expected to result In sportsmen's expenditures of $25,000. Project operation wi II Increase the flows of the Rio Grande down- stream from the mouth of La Jara Creek. The stream will be fished for much longer periods during the summer than It would without these flows. Fishing probably will Increase to a point where total annual expenditures of about $50,000 wi II .occur within the State of Colorado. The additional water will transform the first 24 miles of the Rio Grande In New Mexico Into a good quality trout stream. As a result, fishing wi 11 Increase on this section of the river. The remaining 52 miles of river probably will be a slightly better trout .streClm than at present, and a .moderate Increase In fishing Is expected as a result of the project. Fishing on the Rio Grande within New Mexico Is expected to result In annual expenditures of about $312,500 by sportsmen. The project will eliminate Important waterfowl production and migration habitat In the San Luis Valley, Lowering ground-water levels to a minimum of 8 feet below the ground level wi II redUce the vigor of the vegetation over at least a 170-square-mtle area. Construction of small surface drains to divert Irrigation return flows and ponded water into the main channel will materially reduce avallable_tland habitat In the project area. As a result, some 100,000 acres of seasonally flooded wetlands of value for waterfowl production and migration wi I I be lost or drastically lowered In value. This loss is of national significance and should be mitigated at project cost, Stabilization of the water level In San Luis Lake wi 11 provide a slightly better resting area.formlgrants. A resting area wi 11 be created In the main channel, but there will be little nesting be- cause of the lack of food and cover. While dralnagewi!1 eliminate waterfowl hunting In the water-salvage area, this will be c.ompensated by more hunting around San Luis Lake and along the main channel. Sportsmen's expenditures associated with waterfowl hunting In the project _area wIll amount to $15,000 annually during the next 50 years If the major portion of the area remains open to hunting. Although upland-game habitat will be adversely affected, the loss of hunting Is .notconsidered to be significant, A reduction In the quality of nesting habitat for .mourning doves will result In a slIght loss, The projectw!ll have little overall effect on the fur-animal resource.