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Show ate public authority as having unique or irreplace- able scenic or historic values, unless the benefits to the Nation outweigh the loss of recreation values. 2. Developments in conflict with scenic or historic areas of a lesser order should be deferred as long as equally feasible alternative projects are at hand for the same use. 3. Determination of ultimate use should be on the basis of highest beneficial use to the people of the United States as a whole. Recreation versus Other Uses.-Since the advent of the automobile and the growth of vacation travel, numerous localities have de- veloped prosperous economies on the basis of their climate, their location in regions of unusual scenic quality, good fishing streams, or other outstand- ing recreation resources. As plans proceed to build reservoirs for controlling river flows for different water uses, conflicts arise from competi- tion for available water, particularly in arid and semiarid regions. No community can look with equanimity on a program of water control which threatens its resource base regardless of benefits which may accrue to other areas. A case in point is the Middle Park area in western Colorado. This area has been known for more than half a century for its excellent trout fishing in mountain streams. In the last 20 years or so it has developed as a recreation and vacation area with tourist courts, dude ranches, vacation resorts, and the small retail establishments which cater to the tourist trade. As plans proceed to divert waters from the Colorado River to serve power, water supply, and irrigation interests in other sections of the State, the community envi- sions the possibility that the fishing streams around which its recreation economy has been built will be destroyed by dewatering or inundation. Advocates of proposed water control projects counter the objections of such communities as Middle Park by pointing out the recreation po- tentialities of the proposed large reservoirs. In view of the rapidly growing pressure of recreation seekers, all water bodies should be planned and operated in such a way as to contribute their full measure of recreation opportunity. Existing rec- reation economies based on natural streams may face elimination unless it is practicable to release water in sufficient volume at each development so that the streams below reservoirs will carry a flow sufficient to sustain the dependent recreation. Water Management for Recreation versus Other Functions.-All agencies in any way re- sponsible for the operation of existing water control projects are well aware of the difficulties involved in attempting to satisfy all interests which may be served by river management. The domi- nant purpose approach, which has so far charac- terized most water control activity, has placed recreation interests as secondary beneficiaries whose demands for more recognition are con- tinually increasing. Reservoirs designed to serve the dual purpose of flood reduction and stream flow regulation are normally operated at median lake levels. At times of flood, lake levels are raised, and at times of low river flow, the lake is drawn down to pro- vide more water for downstream areas. The re- sulting fluctuation in water levels, while recog- nized as necessary to the proper functioning of the reservoir for flood control and flow regulation, is decried as damaging to the recreation values of the lake. The mud-flat areas which remain as water levels fall have no esthetic value, and the difficulties involved in maintaining beach and boat-dock facilities are evident. Draw-downs during spawning season seriously affect fish production. Reservoirs which store water for irrigation use, primarily, offer important recreation values in arid and semiarid areas. But here again conflicts arise. Where water quantity is so limited in re- lation to water need, as in the Rio Grande Valley, rights to water have been established which his- torically attach to property holdings, and some States give no legal recognition to the use of water for recreation or fish and wildlife conservation. Consequently, situations arise, as in the case of the Platoro Reservoir in Colorado, where storage of water may dry up many miles of stream below the reservoir and so destroy the fishing value which now exists. In addition, according to the terms of the Rio Grande compact, any reservoir constructed in Colorado in the Rio Grande Basin after 1937 911609-5C -20 255 |
