WSP06537

• File Number: 8220.114.I
• Description: Dolores Participating Project
• State: CO
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 1/1/1976
• Title: Comments re: Draft Environmental Statement - Dolores Project
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: EIS

The pending water litigation in the federal courts concerning
the waters of the San Juan basin does not include the Dolores River
basin. What claim, if any, the United States intends to assert on
behalf of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian tribe for the waters of the
Dolores River basin is now known at this time. However, the Ute Mountain
Ute tribe has indicated a willingness to forego any claim it may have
on the Dolores River in return for water from the Dolores Project.

The adverse environmental impact of the project will be
minimal and will be more than offset by environmental improvements.
Much of the Dolores River below the McPhee Reservoir is now an inter-
mittent stream. A substantial average project water supply of 25,400
acre-feet annually will be released from McPhee Reservoir to maintain a
live stream below that point. This release will greatly enhance both
the fishery and esthetic value of the lower Dolores River.

In a report submitted to Congress just prior to the authori-
zation of the project, the Fish and Wildlife Service stated that
"Stream fishing in the project area is meager" (House Document No. 412,
89th Congress, Second Session, p. 100). Further on in the report the
same agency stated that "The Dolores Project will benefit the fishery
resources of southwestern Colorado" (p. 105).

Concerning big game animals, the Fish and Wildlife Service
stated as follows: "A few deer are residents within the site. Migrant
deer, in numbers up to 100 or more during severe winter weather, seek
the protection afforded by the canyon. During severe winters, as many
as 100 elk have been found in the site. This area would supf,ort about
45 man-days of big game hunting annually without the project' (p. 102).
The same report then recommends "that funds in the amount of $100,000
for mitigation of big game losses resulting from the project be con-
tributed from project construction funds. . ." (p. 106).

The draft environmental impact statement has now been enlarged
upon the originally recommended wildlife mitigation measures to provide
for the acquisition of about 4.500 acres of land adiacent to the McPhee
Reservoir for big game nabitat. While this recommendation is part of
the great land grab now being perpetrated by wildlife agencies under
the guise of mitigation, this board believes that the importance of
the Dolores Project is great enough that this bit of larceny can be
overlooked.

The Dolores project will meet the pressing needs of its
service area. Its unique enhancement of the recreational potential of
the Dolores River canyon and the development of significant Indian
resources has resulted in the project being given a "national urgency"
classification by the Water Resources Congress. Economic benefits
exceed their cost and environmental benefits exceed any adverse effects.
It is therefore strongly recommended that the state of Colorado continue
to lend every possible support and assistance to the immediate con-
struction of the project.

FLS :unn

Memorandum

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December 29, 1976