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<br />No doubt more visitors will come if portions of the Dolores are
<br />included in the national system. Experience indicates as with
<br />other user groups - for example: hunters, jeepers, and fishermen -
<br />there will be a few bad apples, but most will be responsible river
<br />runners, hikers, and campers.
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<br />If any segment of the Dolores is designated, the ensuing Master
<br />Plan will be developed to protect the river and its canyons while
<br />still allowing for maximum enjoyment, There will, for example,
<br />be a ceiling on the numbers of boaters allowed on the river and
<br />boating permits required (as there now is on the Colorado River
<br />in Grand Canyon): parties will probably be required to pack out
<br />all trash, and may even have to carry along their 'own chemical
<br />toilets. The Forest Service and BLM will enforce laws and regula-
<br />tions on the river, and closely manage all recreational use.
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<br />7. WATER RIGHTS. A number of people expressed concern that water
<br />rights would be condemned or otherwise taken away.
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<br />Nothing of this kind is anticipated. Only "wild" river classifica-
<br />tion might limit diversions along the waterway, and a portion or
<br />portions of the river eventually designated as wild will have few
<br />if any existing diversions due ,to the restrictiveness of this
<br />classification in regard to developments present. Diversions are
<br />perfectly allowable 'on II,gcenic" and "recreational" river segmet:lts.
<br />More basically, any wild anu scenic river designation on the Dolores
<br />will simply not sffect any existing water rights,
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<br />8. A DRY RIVER, Many persons wonder how a river that runs low, and
<br />sometimes even dry, can possibly be considered for inclusion
<br />in the national system.
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<br />The purpose of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act is to preserve
<br />selected American rivers "in free-flowing condition," whatever
<br />that condition happens to be. It does not necessarily mean for
<br />river-running or any other kind of recreat ion: "geologic, fish
<br />and wildlife, historic, cultural, and other similar values" are
<br />also considered worth preserving, In addition, the Wild and Scenic
<br />Rivers Act sets no minimum on river flows.
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<br />The Dolores has known an erratic flow pattern - with spring flooding
<br />followed by low water in the summer and fall - for many centuries.
<br />Starting in the late 1800's, the Montezuma Valley Irrigation Company
<br />diversion dropped the low flows considerably more; however, the
<br />Dolores Project, will guarantee a small but continuous streamflow
<br />below McPhee Dam that means the Dolores can be considered "free
<br />flowing. "
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