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r, .--l,i;"" Mji.;,;.... :. 2 . A similar comment can be made regarding the Colorado Division of Wildlife fishery studies on the Fryingpan River disCussed on page V-19 and the Bureau of Reclamation Research Program to study the aquatic ecosystem of Twin Lakes mentioned on page V-52. In all cases, we cannot support the concept of preparing the final en- vironmental statement prior to completion of all environmental assessment studies. On page VII-3 it is pointed out that recreation represents a short- term use of Ruedi Reservoir because much of the water ~ill eventually be committed for West Slope purposes other than recreation. In view of the projected 500,000 ultimate visitation at Ruedi, loss of this resource would be significant from a recreation standpoint. For this reason, discussion of the loss as well as its secondary impact on other recreation reservoirs in the vicinity (the use would have to be absorbed somewhere) needs to be expanded. . Also, we note that the statement makes no mention of the proposed Basalt project just downstream from Ruedi. This proposal would pro- vide municipal and domestic water to the rapidly growing Roaring Fork Valley and irrigation water for privately owned ranchettes and farmlands in the area. Much of the water would be made available by storage releases from Ruedi Reservoir thus increasing drawdown there. Since operation of Basalt could be a contributing factor in an eventual decline of recreation use at Ruedi, discussion of their interrelationship should be included in the final statement. On page IV-20 the increase in total fishing man-days resulting from the Fryingpan-Arkansas project is discussed. Do these figures take into account the stream fishing days lost as a result of the proposal? If not, this oversight should be rectified in the final statement so that only net benefits are shown. Also, an effort should be made to differentiate between the quality of experience associated with stream vs. reservoir fishing. The statement does not appear to adequately discuss the potential impact of diverting water from the West Slope of Colorado to the East Slope on the streams themselves. This is perhaps the most crucial aspect of the entire project since dewatering of a stream can have a deleterious effect on stream related recreation depending on whether adequate minimum flows are provided. Although the document mentions such flo~s on the Fryingpan, it does not discuss the many tributaries where diversion dams are proposed or in operation. Treatment of this aspect of the project should be added to the final version. We appreciate the opportunity to revie~ and comment on this report. . I;clP~ XI-243