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, . :-. ~- \4'1 .LJ <vu --. The proposed Basalt Project is currently being studied for supplying municipal and domestic water to growing populations in the vicinity of the town of Basalt. Four alternative plans are under consideration. Three of the developments would take all or a major portion of their water supply from storage in Ruedi Reservoir. However, the Basalt Project would be in competition with other potential uses of Ruedi Reservoir water. For example, Gulf and Standard Oil Companies have expressed a desire to contract for Ruedi Reservoir water to develop oil shale on Colorado Oil Shale Tract C-a recently leased from the United States. The Basalt Project will require congressional authorization. If one of the four alternatives is selected and congressional authorization is sought, a Project plan and an environmental assessment will be prepared prior to requesting such congressional authorization and appropriation of funds to construct the Project. . 5. Comment - On Page IV-20 the increase in total fishing man-days result- ing from the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project is discussed. Do these figures take into account the stream fishing days lost as a result of the pro- posal? If not, this oversight should be rectified in the final state- ment 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. . Response: The increases in total man-days of fishing as a result of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project are net increases. This information was furnished by the Fish and Wildlife Service in consultation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. 6. Comment - 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 flows on the Fryingpan, it does not discuss the many tributaries where diversion dams are proposed or in operation. Treat- ment of this aspect of the Project should be added to the final version. . Response: The minimum flow requirements for all the diversion sites are summarized in Table 11-8 and are included in the description of the diversion structures in Chapter II,'TIescription of the Proposal:' The minimum flow requirements for the Fryingpan River and the criteria for distributing the minimum flows to each of the tributaries are pre- sented in the Operating Principles (Appendix B). No water will be diverted from any stream during low flow periods. The environmental impacts on each of the streams from which water is diverted are discussed under the North Side and South Side Collection Systems and in the cumulative Projectwide impacts under "Fisheries" in Chapter IV, 'Environmental Impacts of the Proposed Action. " XI-247