OCR Text |
Show occurrence of excessive flows from the Strawberry Valley Irrigation Project. The State Division of Wildlife Resources rates the stream as Class III. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife has estimated losses to angling recreation at 1,500 man- days per year. A small ranch site would also be inundated. Fishery releases of 18 to 30 second- feet at Hayes Dam would be made during the winter months to maintain the recommended flow of 75 c. f. s. in the 3 miles of the Spanish Fork River between its confluence with Diamond Fork and the Strawberry Power Canal Diversion Dam. These releases would also serve to sustain aquatic habitat in the 0.5 mile of stream below Hayes Dam. In terms of fishing there would be an annual gain of 7,100 man- days of use. The Ankarah geologic formation in Hayes Reservoir area has been surface mined for both building stone and furnace sand. The Bureau of Mines reports that the building stone is not significant as a mineral resource; it is a sandstone that weathers easily, and it has hot been produced from the area since 11 the turn of the century. A small amount of furnace or molding sand has been produced from intermittent operations within the reservoir site, but there is no production at this time. Moreover, there are ample occurrences of such sand in the vicinity of the reservoir site and, therefore, mineral resource commitment through inundation at Hayes Reservoir site would not be critical. The National Park Service evaluation of Hayes Reservoir indicates that it would be an attractive impoundment in close proximity to heavily traveled highway and urban population centers. The immediate scenery is pleasing and there are picturesque mountain views in the distance. However, the shore gradient is generally steep and not conducive to large scale recreational development. Another negative factor would be the severe water level drawdown of about 100 feet that would be completed by the end of the irrigation season. Such a drawdown would limit fishery capability and pose difficulties in providing access to the water surface. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife estimates the fishing benefits at 17,100 man- days annually while the National Park Service estimates 35,000 recreation visitations after initial development. 263 |