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~~~~ . . Um~e"'lStates Department of the Interior . BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240 IN REPLY REFER TO: D6427 -AWR J1X.l1 1S74 MEMORANDUM To: Commissioner of Reclamation ,,~.fo From~~...'l> Director, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Subject: Review of draft environmental statement for the Fryingpan- Arkansas proj ect, Colorado (DES-7 4-32) We have revie~ed the subject draft statement as requested in your April 17, 1974, memorandum, and offer the following suggestions for consideration. 1. Description of the Proposal As now presented, the water surface elevation graph for Ruedi Reservoir (Figure 11-84) could be misinterpreted. The use of 100-foot intervals along the vertical axis of the graph gives an appearance of stability at Ruedi when in fact, the reservoir experiences considerable drawdown. We note that for other project reservoirs (i.e., Turquoise Lake, Twin Lakes, and Pueblo Reservoir) an interval of 10 feet has been used. In order to give the reader a basis for comparing the drawdown characteristics of the various reservoirs as well as give a true picture of the water fluctuation pattern at Ruedi, it is our recommendation that a 10-foot interval be used for all project water bodies in the final statement. . 2. Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action On page IV-II it is stated that "Specific quantitative data for fish and wildlife population, composition and other characteristics . within the project area are being cooperatively accumulated and studied by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Bureau of Reclamation," and as a result, "The information available as of the preparation of this statement is limited." In order to be in total compliance with the intent of the National Environmental Policy Act, these studies should be completed before the final statement is prepared. Otherwise it is difficult to assess the impact of the proposal on these resources. XI-242 .