WSP06571

• File Number: 7630.425
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Piedra River
• State: CO
• Basin: Western Slope
• Water Division: 7
• Date: 2/13/1979
• Author: USFS - Colorado DNR
• Title: Piedra River Final Environmental Impact Statement and Wild and Scenic River Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

OfJ:H93-

A second level specificatIon was ~de to determine which coeponents and their .uh-~art8 are
relevant to the Piedra River corridor. SED second level components include:

1) increase or maintain current levels of ~ood fiber production

2) incre'u.. outdoor recreation opportunity

ca:uping
big game hunting
fishing
hiking and other trail uses
white water boating
picnicking

1) increase forage for livestock on Sational Forest lands

~) increase output of mineral production in the river corridor

'n the !>..tand l..vel specification some of the com.ponent& 0'1" sub-p3rts ..",re deleted:

1) Agricultural production on private lands was not considered because the forest
Service does not have authority to enter into programs that would increase productivity
on private lands. In one inlltance. additional production due toirrigationdevl!lopll1ent
on ne~ lands could be achieved; h~ever, this proposal has its impact on the !Ie~~nt of
the East Fork which ~aS found to be not eligible for inclusion iota the national wild and
scenic rivers system. Generally all irrigable private lands ~ithin and adjacent to the
river are current I}' irrigated. Agriculture production could not b" increased as a result
of actions ta~en under the suspices of the Wild and Scenic Rivera Act. There are, hovever.
various prograll1s sponsored by the Soil Conservation Service that could increase agriculture
production.

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2) Production of hydroelectric energy was deleted because of low potential. In 195b,
the Bureau of Reclall1ation reported a negative benefit/cost ratio for the O'~eal Project
(8 Cp. Cit.). The Increased cast of equIp~nt. labor and ll1aterials, since 19Sb, makes a
positive benefit/cost ratio for power generatIon unlikely.

J) Coal and geothermal energy re80urce were not considered.
Interior ([MARS 7 Cp. Cit.) !Itudies indicate there is no known
within the study area.

The U. S. Depart~ent of the
coal and geother~al arens

~) Specific number8 of big ga~ animals were deleted becau8e ~ontrol of numbers relative
to hunting pressure, succ~as ratios and residual herd si~e is a function of huntin&
seaSona and permits under the dir..ct control of the State Division of Wildlife. nIl.'
Forest Service procedurally only makes recommendationa to the State regarding biR ga~e
animal Il1anagement.

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Envitonm"ntal Qu~lity Compooents. The following components for environmental quality identi-
fied:

1) preserve and protect rIver 8eg~nts with wild. scenic, or recreational character

2) protect and maintain ""utstandingly remarkable" resource values along the river
corridor

3) protect and maintain water and air quality

4) maintain and protect habitat of threatened or endangered species

5) protect and preserve archaeologic resources

b) avoid irreversible and irretrievable commit....nts of resources and preserve freedom
of choice for future generations

EQ cOll1ponents identified in the second lev"l speCification are:

1) preserve and protect

32.5 ~ll"s of river with wild character
12.9 miles of river with scenic character
5.5 mlles of river with recreational character
restore ~.) miles of river to free flo~ing character that was found det~rmined
to be ineligible

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