WSP06682

• File Number: 7630.625
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 10/7/1975
• Author: DOI-USDA
• Title: Delores Wild and Scenic River Study Fact Sheet - From File Titled Wild and Scenic Rivers-Miscellaneous
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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003179
. DOLORES WILD AND SCENIC RIVER STUDY

FACT SHEET

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Prepared By:
The Bureau of Outdoor Recreation, USDI
Forest Service, USDA
and
Colorado Department of Natural Resources
October 7, 1975

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1. THE STUDY. Many people wondered why the Dolores River is being
studied now - in 1975. Some also asked why the study was being
done'in such a rush; others asked why the river was studied only
in spring 1975 when water levels were unusually high,

Interest in having the Dolores studied for possible Wild snd Scenic
Rivers designation dates back to the mid-1960's; at that time,
members of the Colorado Whitewater Association drafted an early
proposal, but nothing came of it. This interest grew in the late
1960's and early 1970's along with the national concern about the
environment, and about wilderness and wild rivers preservation.
Finally, on August 1, 1973, former U.S. Senator'Peter Dominick
introduced the Colorado Rivers Preservation Act calling for study
of 14 State rivers for possible inclusion in,the National Wild and
Scenic Rivers System. The Dolores was one of these. Senator
Dominick's bill proceeded through the normal legislative process
and eventually became part of a major amendment to the Wild and
Scenic Rivers Act. This Act was signed by President Ford on
January 3, 1975 and called for study of 29 rivers in the United
States - 12 of them in Colorado, Four segments of the Dolores
were singled out for consideration:

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I. The main stem from its source downstream to Rico (15 miles).

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II. The West Dolores from its source downstream to its confluence
with the main stem (35 miles).

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'111. The main stem from a point just below the site of McPhee Dam
(major structure of the Bureau of Reclamation's authorized
Dolores Project) to'l mile above the Highway 90 bridge near
Bedrock (105 miles).

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IV. The main stem from its confluence with the San Miguel to the
Colorado-Utah State line '(38 miles).

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