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MEMORANDUM _ .1'-8:..; To: ?B.es . Subject: Response to June 7, 1974, Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Comment Letter on the fryingpan-Arkansas Project, Colorado, Draft Environmental Statement 1. Comment - As now presented, the water surface elevation graph for Ruedi Reservoir (figure 11-84) could be misinterpreted. The use of lOa-foot intervals along the vertical axis of the graph gives an appearance of stability at Ruedi when in fact, the reservoir experi- ences considerable drawdown. We note that for other project reser- voirs (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 la-foot interval be used for all project water bodies in the final statement. Response: revised to The vertical scale of figures II-51 and II~52 clarify the fluctuations of Ruedi Reservoir. has been 2. Comment - On page IV-II it is stated that "Specific quantitative data for fish and wildlife population, composition and other character- istics within the project area are being cooperatively accumulated . and studied by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the fish and Wildlife Service, 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 com- pleted before the final statement is prepared. Otherwise, it is ..J:~~:_..'..L. ......_ ______ ......1..._ :____...... _c ......1..._ _.______, __ ......1...___ _______.____ u..L.i...L..l.\,..U.J..1. l.U 0;:::';::'1;::;::>;:;" I.UI:;: .Llll!JC1l....1.. Ul. LIlO:::: !J.l."Vl-IV;:;"Q..I.. UU 1..11\::;:'0;:: J..c;::.vu.J.......O;:;:;.:>. 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 environ- mental statement prior to completion of all environmental assessment studies. Response: The fryingpan-Arkansas Project was an ongoing Project when NEPA was enacted. Many changes were made in the Project plan and in the deSign and construction of Project features and several environmental studies were initiated before and after NEPA. The studies were initiated before construction of some Project features and will continue after completion of construction of the features. These studies will then enable the Bureau of Reclamation to measure and quantify the environmental impacts and develop . XI-244