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<br />003182
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<br />These concerns have little basis in fact. When Senator Dominick
<br />proposed the Dolores for wild and scenic river study back in 1973,
<br />he did so in the belief that the Dolores Project/McPhee Dam would
<br />not and should not be threatened. He' included a special provision
<br />to this end in his bill.
<br />
<br />As enacted in January 1975, the Dolores River study bill specifically
<br />excluded all the Dolores Project area from any wild and scenic river
<br />consideration, At no point in 1975 has or will the Team study
<br />the project area of the river, Throughout its efforts, the Team
<br />has viewed the McPhee Dam as already "in place" - already built.
<br />In fact, the Team has now concluded that this dam will help the
<br />wild and scenic qualities of the river downstream by: 1) assuring
<br />a minimum. stream flow so the Dolores will not run dry, and
<br />2) controlling spring runoff so that recreational boating days can
<br />be grouped together and predicted.
<br />
<br />The Dolores Project will pass or fail on its own merits, not because
<br />of any wild and scenic river designation, Though originally authorized
<br />back in 1968, the project is only now.nearing the end of its planning
<br />phase, Sometime after this work i~ cGnplete, Congress will consider
<br />appropriation of money for land acquisition and construction; this
<br />will be when the project receives most intense scrutiny,
<br />
<br />4. CONDEMNATION AND EASE}lliNTS. Many property owners along the Dolores
<br />expressed fears that their lands would be condemned, "The house
<br />I live in and the land I live on will'become public property,"
<br />wrote one person; "I'll be left with nothing:"
<br />
<br />In this case, it's true that some private lands along the river
<br />will be ~ffected, but fears that all lands will be taken and existing
<br />uses ended are much exaggerated. First of all, there will be absolutely
<br />no government action on those portions of the Dolores River excluded
<br />.from the study, Secondly, only those segments which Congress finally
<br />includes in the National System (if any) will be affected. This
<br />will most likely involve all or parts of the following river segments
<br />the Study Team found eligible or potentially eligible for inclusion:
<br />1) The West Dolores, 2) the I~S-mile segment between McPhee Damsite
<br />and Bedrock, and 3) the 8-mile stretch from Gateway to the Colorado-
<br />Utah line,
<br />
<br />On any segment finally included in the National Wild and Scenic
<br />Rivers System, government action is still sharply restricted.
<br />Section 6(b) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act states that if
<br />.more than 50 percent of the land along a river is publicly owned
<br />(either by the U. S. or the State), then there shall be no fee title
<br />condemnation. Since well over half of the Dolores runs through
<br />National Forest and National Resource (BLM) land, any fee title
<br />condemnation here is out,
<br />
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