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49GC --. appropriate mitigating measures to y'educe the effect of the environ- mental impacts. It is also the purpose of these studies to collect information and data which the Bureau, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife can use in evaluating operation- al effects and in developing operational criteria and modification of operational criteria to protect the resources to the greatest extent possible. The results of these studies will also enable the. Bureau of Reclamation to more accurately determine the potential environ- mental impacts and applicable mitigating measures for similar projects to be constructed in the future. We could not complete our studies evaluating the environmental impact if it were required thac they be completed before preparation of the final environmental statement. Without construction of the feature the environmental impacc and most effective micigating measure cannot be accurately determined. We have used data provided by these studies to anticipate what the environmental impacts will be and what possible mitigating measures may be appropriate. See Chapcer IV, Environmental Impacts of che Proposed Action and Chapter V, Mitigating Measures and Air and Water Quality Aspects. . 3. Comment - On page VII-3, it is pointed out chat recreation represents a short-term use of Ruedi Reservoir because much of the water will eventually be committed for West Slope purposes other than recreation. In view of the projected 500,000 ulcimace visitation at Ruedi, loss of this resource would be signifcant 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. Response: When the Ruedi Reservoir visitation figures were calculated by the Forest Service, the proposed darn and reservoir operation information was provided to them by the Bureau of Reclamation. This information included the pool levels, and their respective acre-feet capacity and surface acres as illustrated in Figure II-5, "Area Capacity Data - Ruedi Reservoir, Coloradc." The National Park Service and Forest Service also knew the reservoir's purpose would be to provide storage for the replacement of water diverted from the western slope to the eastern slope. Figure II-5 indicates an active conser- vation pool with potential fluctuation of 200 feet. As shown on Figure II-52, the typical operation of the reservoir will not usually cause the full range of water surface change. furthermore, the utilization of Ruedi Reservoir water for future developments in western Colorado such as oil shale was considered in 1959. The use of Ruedi water for oil shale may become a realization before 1980. . The Forest Service considered the above factors in arrlvlng at their projected visitation for Ruedi. Their projected visitations also imply that the people will continue to use Ruedi for recreation in spite of the drawdowns; therefore, there would be no "loss of the XI-245